February 26th, 2015 
James Shotwell 
Film: The Hunting Ground
Directed by: Kirby Dick
Genre: Documentary
Though some may argue otherwise, I think it’s safe to say that most would agree all cases of alleged sexual assault should be investigated thoroughly. Living, as we all do, in the 21st century, we have learned that is rarely the case. From the military to the world of higher education, there are hundreds or even thousands of alleged incidents of sexual assault every year that are never investigated. Of those that do catch the attention of authority figures, very few result in any kind of arrest or punishment being made. Most don’t know why this is, including filmmakers Kirby Dick, which is why the man behind The Invisible War is now shining a light on sexual assault at colleges across the country with his latest work, The Hunting Ground.
Set on campuses across America, The Hunting Ground compiles dozens of interviews from alleged sexual assault victims, as well as sound bits from professionals in the world of higher education — all in attempt to better understand why so many accusations are never acted upon. Brave women from all walks of life share their horrific stories, often complete with graphic detail, and then walk Kirby through the steps they took in hopes of finding justice. Most, unfortunately, never see their attacker arrested. In fact, many never seen any action whatsoever made in response to their claims. The reason for this is at the heart of The Hunting Ground, and it’s one almost too disheartening to reveal.
The harsh, but never all that secret reality is that higher education is as much a business as it is a place where young minds go to prepare for the realities of adulthood. With that in mind, the reason so many campuses are quick to try and quiet allegations of sexual assault become a bit easier to understand. That’s not to say those reasons are acceptable, or that they should ever be used to try and forgive burying allegations of violent crimes, but understandable nonetheless. No school wants to condone acts of violence on any level, but they also do not want to be known for accepting alleged sexual deviants into their Freshman class. As Kirby and viewers discover, most schools would rather find a way to bury any allegations of wrongdoing rather than investigate, if only because it would serve the school’s financial interests better if talk of such crimes were never made public.
It would be easy for The Hunting Ground to fall victim to the common documentary problem of showcasing an issue without digging any deeper than a well-researched newspaper op-ed, and for a long time that seems like it might be what happens. The first half of the film is largely made up of alleged victims sharing their stories in between screens filled with text sharing facts and figures related to sexual assaults on campuses across America.
It’s all chilling and deeply moving, but it isn’t until Dick turns his attention to the schools who refuse to follow through on these allegations that the film rises above similar genre fare. It’s in these sequences that Dick encounters truly maddening discoveries, most of which relate to efforts made by administrators or law enforcement to silence accusers, and that is when The Hunting Ground becomes something altogether more enthralling. You not only have the victims’ stories, all of which pull at your heart strings, but also the people who watched as the accused were let off the hook. You sense the sadness in the young women, but also the regret in those who chose not to act. There is even an interview with an attacker at one point, though his face is never shown.
Between The Invisible War and The Hunting Ground Kirby Dick has done more for victims of sexual assault than most could hope to accomplish in a lifetime. He not only gives a voice to victims, but also takes it upon himself to seek out answers as to why so many accusations are never taken seriously, or at the very least never acted upon. It seems Dick has made it his mission to bring to light our nation’s tragic lack of support for victims of these crimes, and The Hunting Ground is without question his finest work to date. I think it would be impossible for anyone to watch this film without feeling a rush of anger flow through their veins, but whether or not that will be enough to enact change is another question altogether. All I ask is that you give this problem the time it deserves and, if you’re at all able to help, find a way to make a positive impact on those who may have been victimized in your own community. Together, we can make a difference, and through his work with this feature Kirby Dick has brought a nationwide problem into our homes in a very personal and deeply moving way. What more could you hope to find in a film like this?
GRADE: A
Review written by James Shotwell
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