The Huntress is a lean revenge thriller [Sundance review]

Courtesy of Sundance

Writer/director Suzanne Andrews Correa's The Huntress is a powerful revenge film about retribution in honor of disappeared and abused women. Set in the border city of Juárez, Mexico, the film begins with quite a bang and then unpacks why such a violent action transpired in the first place. This isn't a film about how the protagonist does what she does, but rather why. She's an avenging angel who takes justice into her own hands, and the result is a taut thriller that challenges the systems that allow such violence against women to occur in the first place.

The movie stars Adriana Paz as Luz. This is a minor spoiler, but in the opening minutes, Luz shoots a bus driver. Initially, viewers have no idea why she did this. The why comes much later, as the narrative slowly unfolds. Though this feature is only 90 minutes long and rather lean, it still requires patience regarding the answers it eventually gives.

Once Luz commits the crime, she spends the rest of the movie evading questioning from the police, especially Detective Rosales, played by Guillermo Alonso. Yet they become impossible to avoid. They show up at her factory job and her home. They even question her daughter, Ale (Jennifer Trejo), and her partner, Jaime (Eme Malafe). Luz becomes increasingly paranoid that she's going to get caught, as the police presence, especially Detective Rosales, increases. At one point, Luz slips up and mentions that the killer was a female, which raises the detective's suspicion. He won't allow Luz and her family out of his sight.

Much of this film is carried by Paz's emotional and electric performance. She really gives this role her all, and because of that, it's easy as viewers to become invested in Luz's story, especially why she did what she did. We eventually learn more about her and the trauma she endured at the hands of men, thanks to flashbacks sprinkled throughout the runtime.

The film's other real highlight is the relationship between Luz and Ale. Again, part of this is a testament to Paz and Trejo's acting and gripping performances, but it also speaks to the strength of this particular aspect of the script. The mother/daughter relationship is a strong undercurrent. It's clear quite quickly that Luz will do whatever she can to protect her daughter, including from the police and other systems of power that do little to protect women or find the disappeared women.

As the film progresses, Luz becomes increasingly nervous and paranoid, which strains the relationship with her family. She has to be on guard all the time, and this creates nail-biting tension. There's the constant sense that danger lurks around every dusty bend within the city. Luz can get caught. Every TV plays news story after news story about the murder. She can't escape it. Meanwhile, she fears for her daughter's safety in a society that devalues women.

The suspense builds to a powerful conclusion where the women's voices are finally heard. There's a moment late in the film where the detective has to confront the police force's negligence and abuse, and it's a scene that will stick with me for some time. Retribution takes a lot of different forms. It's the film's real high point that deserves accolades.

The Huntress is a gripping thriller about the disappearance and sexual assault of Latin American women. This is a revenge movie that doesn't spill a whole lot of blood but rarely eases up on the tension and suspense. Correa crafted a potent story that deserves to be heard.

The Huntress premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.