A spine-chilling period drama inspired by the real-life murder of Marianne Vaatstra, a case that gripped the Netherlands for more than a decade.
In the spring of 1999, a 16-year-old girl was found raped and murdered between a small village and a refugee center in a Dutch province. The murder tore apart not only entire families and a community but also kept the whole nation in its grip. ‘The Hunt’ chronicles the long and frustrating search for the perpetrator, with each episode telling the story from a different main character's perspective and exploring the impact of the murder on their lives. The crime remained unsolved until two main detectives managed to initiate a large-scale DNA investigation, which finally broke the case open.
The Hunt stands out as a reconstruction of a case once deemed the 'murder of the century,' offering not just a gripping crime story but also a deeply human exploration of the aftermath on ordinary lives. Its themes—xenophobia, racism, fake news, and the rural-urban divide—are globally relevant and resonate with contemporary societal issues. With conspiracy theories more prevalent than ever, The Hunt taps into timely conversations, making it a powerful and thought-provoking title for today’s audiences worldwide.
Critically acclaimed by the Dutch media:
VARA-gids: "A milestone in Dutch television history"
Volkskrant: “A convincing portrait of the many guises of guilt"
Parool: "A haunting, memorable and interesting series"
Genres
Crime, Drama
Duration
6 x 50'
Language
Dutch
Cast
Richelle Plantina, Hans Kesting, Gijs Blom, Imanuelle Grives, Aus Greidanus Jr, Eefje Paddenburg, Jack Wouterse
Director
Michiel van Erp
Scriptwriter
Willem Bosch
Production Company
Pupkin Productions
Producer
Pieter Kuijpers
Production Year
2023-2024
Pieter Kuijpers, creative producer (Riphagen, Van God Los, TBS), and screenwriter Willem Bosch (The Spectacular, Van God Los, Penoza) are the driving forces behind the series, directed by Michiel van Erp (Niemand in de stad, Ramses). The cast is a unique blend of seasoned actors and fresh, up-and-coming talent: Hans Kesting (Sleepers, Nobody in the City), Abke Haring (Splendid Isolation), Richelle Plantina (Swanenburg), Gijs Blom (Emmy-nominated for The Letter for the King), Aus Greidanus Jr (A Beautiful Imperfection), Imanuelle Grives (Only Decent People), Eefje Paddenburg, and Jack Wouterse.
Awards
Nominated
Netherlands Intl Film Festival 2024
Best Drama Series , Best Screenplay, Best Direction, Best Leading Role
Won
Netherlands Intl Film Festival 2024
Best Direction (Michiel Van Erp)
Best Leading Role (Abke Haring)