The Head Hunter (2018 film)

The Head Hunter, originally titled The Head, is a 2018 American independent fantasy horror film directed, written, produced and edited by Jordan Downey. It stars Norwegian actor Christopher Rygh, Cora Kaufman, and Aisha Ricketts. The film centers on the title character, who works as a bounty hunter for a local kingdom, all the while he awaits the eventual return of the creature that murdered his daughter.

Influenced by Quest for Fire, The Witch, The X-Files, and Tales From the Crypt, The Head Hunter was developed by Downey and Kevin Stewart. The filming location was decided long before the story was developed. The concept was developed at a writer's retreat, in which the filmmakers had assembled and hosted at Stewart's family home in Soutelo Mourisco, a small village in Northern Portugal. Rygh, in his feature-film debut, was cast as the leading role after filmmakers discovered him while searching a casting website. Principal photography began in Bragança, Portugal, while additional scenes were shot in Norway, and California.

The Head Hunter premiered at the Sitges Film Festival on October 6, 2018, as a part of the "Panorama Fantàstic" section. While the film was screened under the title The Head at Sitges, and Nightmares Film Festival, but was later changed to The Head Hunter due to lukewarm reactions. The film received several awards and nominations at the various film festivals and received positive reviews from critics upon its release, with many praising the film's atmosphere, cinematography, and Rygh's performance, although its low budget prompted some criticism.