Netflix Unveils Trailer for South African Crime Thriller, ‘Heart of the Hunter’

South African crime thriller 'Heart of the Hunter' is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mandla Dube, and based on the 2002 novel by Deon Meyer.

A still of Bonko Khoza in ‘Heart of the Hunter.’

A still of Bonko Khoza in ‘Heart of the Hunter.’

Image provided by Netflix.

On March 29, Netflix will premiere its latest commissioned South African film, Heart of the Hunter. Announced as part of a slate of upcoming titles back in September 2023, the spy thriller is directed by Mandla Dube, who helmed the Netflix original film, Silverton Siege, an action thriller based on real events from a siege during apartheid.

Heart of the Hunter is part of the multi-title deal Dube struck with Netflix, and is based on the classic crime novel of the same title by Deon Meyer. In it, lead character Zuko Khumalo works at an auto shop but his past life, more complicated than his present, unravels the simple life he’s built for himself. Fighting for his country’s democracy and to keep his family safe, Khumalo has to embark on one final mission where the stakes are high.

In the new trailer unveiled by Netflix, viewers are shown a glimpse of the intense drama and high-octane action sequences that will feature in Heart of the Hunter. Led by Bonko Khoza, who plays Khumalo, the cast of the film includes veteran South African actors like Connie Ferguson, Masasa Mbangeni, Tim Theron and more.

As shown in Silverton Siege, and slightly older directed films like Kalushi, Dube is well-versed in the art of making blockbuster movies that balance South Africa’s unique politics and history, with the sleekness of mainstream action thrillers. Heart of the Hunter should continue to underline that ability, and will have no authenticity problems in relation to its source material, as Meyer serves as a co-writer and executive producer on the film.

Watch the trailer for Heart of the Hunter here.

Heart of the Hunter | Official Trailer | Netflixwww.youtube.com

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