Survival and Terror in the Wild: A Review of Rovdyr (Manhunt)

Rovdyr, also known internationally as Manhunt, is a brutal and atmospheric survival horror film from Norway, directed by Patrik Syversen and released in 2008. Set in the dense Norwegian wilderness during the 1970s, this film explores the terrifying scenario of a group of young people being hunted like animals by a group of sadistic locals. With its gritty style, relentless pace, and raw depiction of human fear, Rovdyr offers a harrowing look into the dark side of survival.

The plot begins with four friends — Camilla, Roger, Mia, and Jørgen — going on a road trip through the Norwegian countryside. Their journey takes a dark turn when they stop at a diner and encounter suspicious locals. Soon after, they are ambushed, abducted, and taken deep into the forest, where they are released — not in mercy, but as prey in a deadly human hunt. The hunters are brutal men who see their victims not as people, but as game, chasing them through the woods with rifles and knives for sport.

What makes Rovdyr stand out is its relentless intensity. From the moment the hunt begins, the film rarely slows down. The pacing is fast, the editing tight, and the tension constant. Viewers are thrown into a chaotic, adrenaline-fueled nightmare where every rustle of leaves and snap of a twig could mean death. The forest setting is used effectively to create a claustrophobic atmosphere, even though the characters are technically in open space. Trees become walls, silence becomes noise, and the forest becomes a trap.

The film draws obvious comparisons to other survival horror films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Deliverance, especially in its portrayal of rural brutality and the loss of innocence. However, Rovdyr adds a unique Nordic touch — a cold, grey, and indifferent wilderness that seems to mirror the hunters’ inhumanity. There is little dialogue once the chase begins, which intensifies the feeling of isolation and despair.

While the film does not delve deeply into character development, it makes up for it by capturing the raw emotion of fear, panic, and desperation. Camilla, the central character, gradually transforms from a terrified victim to a survivor who must make painful choices to stay alive. Her journey is not heroic in the traditional sense, but it is powerful in its realism.

Rovdyr is not for the faint of heart. It is violent, disturbing, and bleak, but it is also a well-crafted piece of genre cinema that delivers exactly what it promises: a gritty, no-holds-barred look at human savagery in the wild. For fans of survival horror and psychological thrillers, this film is a chilling reminder that the most dangerous predators are not always animals — sometimes, they are people.