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Drama thriller

Hounds of Love (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Hounds of Love (2017) movie poster

Hounds of Love is a 2017 drama thriller directed by Ben Young, starring Stephen Curry, Susie Porter and Harrison Gilbertson. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $234,419 worldwide. It won 1 award from 8 nominations, including Best Lead Actress at the AACTA Awards 2017. Critics gave it 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10.

IMDb rating
6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes
88%
worldwide gross
$234.4K
award won
1
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Hounds of Love (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 48m (108 min)
Director
Ben Young
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Horror
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Hounds of Love About?

The premise of Hounds of Love without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 1980s Perth, Australia, a terrifying reality hides behind the seemingly normal suburban environment. Serial killers John and Evelyn White are responsible for a string of disappearances and murders. When young Vicki Maloney becomes their latest victim, she finds herself trapped in their horrifying game. To survive, Vicki must exploit the complex and volatile relationship between the killers, attempting to turn them against each other while desperately fighting to escape their clutches and evade a deadly fate.

Hounds of Love Themes & Keywords

· 45 tags
  • fellatio
  • kidnapping
  • abduction
  • male nudity
  • male full frontal nudity
  • male frontal nudity
  • male pubic hair
  • australia
  • rape
  • husband wife relationship
  • predatory couple
  • murder
+33 more
  • pubic hair
  • woman wears only a shirt
  • 1980s
  • blood
  • driving
  • stabbing
  • serial murder
  • killing a dog
  • slow motion scene
  • female topless nudity
  • missing person
  • digging a grave
  • blood spatter
  • puppy
  • pervert
  • jealousy
  • ozploitation
  • oceania
  • female star appears nude
  • female full frontal nudity
  • teenage girl
  • christmas
  • sneaking out
  • kitchen knife
  • domestic violence
  • mother daughter relationship
  • perth australia
  • murder of husband by wife
  • song in title
  • tied up while barefoot
  • reference to gizmo
  • woman wears only a man's shirt
  • female nudity
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Cast & crew

Hounds of Love Cast

Stephen Curry leads the cast, with Susie Porter and Harrison Gilbertson. Directed by Ben Young; 10 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ben Young

More films directed by Ben Young, best-rated first: Devil's Peak, Extinction, Bush Basher and Something Fishy.

Full filmography
Ratings

Hounds of Love Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Hounds of Love 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 73 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.5/10. Our Echo Score gives it 68/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in rewatch factor (45).

68 /100

Hounds of Love Echo Score Breakdown

The film exhibits strong technical craftsmanship and performances but its narrative unevenness and relentless intensity moderate its overall impact. Critics praise Ben Young’s bold vision and the precise cinematography that reinforce a claustrophobic atmosphere, while Booth’s layered performance sustains emotional investment. Yet many note predictable plot developments and unresolved narrative motivation, and the unrelenting psychological distress limits broader engagement. Overall, Hounds of Love impresses through style and acting but remains challenging in story cohesion and replay appeal.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates confident aesthetic control and technical polish. Critics highlight Ben Young’s unflinching directorial approach and well-executed production design in confined interiors. The restrained color palette, purposeful framing, and measured editing establish mounting tension and a cohesive visual identity. Although some viewers find the visuals taxing, the overall craft remains assured and visually coherent.

  • Character & Emotion 78

    Regarding character and emotion, the film features compelling performances that ground its psychological intensity. Booth’s nuanced portrayal traverses the dual roles of tormentor and victim with subtle shifts in power, and supporting actors convey genuine distress in close quarters. Despite occasional remarks on conventional archetypes, the interplay drives authentic stakes and emotional resonance. Overall, character work sustains engagement through its credible portrayal of trauma and conflict.

  • Story & Flow 55

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative delivers steadily mounting suspense yet is constrained by predictability and underdeveloped motivations. Critics and users note its measured pacing sustains engagement, but originality is limited and key narrative questions go unanswered. The film’s emotional climax offers catharsis, but unresolved thematic threads create a sense of incompleteness. Overall, the plot execution is competent in rhythm but uneven in conceptual depth and coherence.

  • Sensory Experience 72

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film presents a cohesive audiovisual framework that intensifies psychological unease. The stark lighting choices and tight framing combine with an understated score and impactful sound design to amplify tension in each scene. Aesthetic flourishes are praised for breaking up darker sequences, even as the sensory assault can feel relentless. Overall, the unified visual style and layered audio effectively immerse viewers in the film’s unsettling world.

  • Rewatch Factor 45

    Regarding rewatch factor, the film’s relentless intensity and unflinching tone limit its replay appeal. While strong performances and technical precision resonate on first viewing, the penetrating psychological distress deters most viewers from returning. A small segment of aficionados may revisit for thematic analysis, but the overall visceral impact and narrative ambiguity constrain broader replayability. Overall, Hounds of Love is unlikely to inspire frequent subsequent viewings.

Plot

Hounds of Love Plot Summary

What happens in Hounds of Love from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Vicki Maloney is a bright and engaging teenager grappling with her parents’ recent separation. Spending the weekend at her mother’s home in the suburbs, tensions flare during an argument, prompting Vicki to sneak out for a party. It is during this escapade that she unwittingly gets into the car of a seemingly kind couple, John and Evelyn White, only to discover their true nature.

Full summary

The whole story of Hounds of Love, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Hounds of Love Box Office

Hounds of Love grossed $234,419 worldwide.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$234.4K

International
$234.4K
Awards

Hounds of Love Awards & Nominations

Hounds of Love won 1 award from 8 nominations, including Best Lead Actress at the AACTA Awards 2017.

1 win8 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

Hounds of Love Trailers & Videos

4 videos: 4 trailers.

HOUNDS OF LOVE | Official USA Trailer HD
  • Trailer Hounds of Love Official Trailer 1 (2017) - Ashleigh Cummings Movie
  • Trailer HOUNDS OF LOVE Australian Cinema Trailer (2017)
  • Trailer Hounds Of Love - Official UK Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Hounds of Love?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the main character's name in 'Hounds of Love'?

Details

Hounds of Love Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Av Köpekleri” and “Liebestolle Hunde”.

Also known as
  • Av Köpekleri
  • Liebestolle Hunde
  • Predadores do Amor
  • Love Hunters
  • Гончие любви
  • 爱的猎犬
  • Хрътките на любовта
  • כלבי אהבה
  • Ogary Miłości
  • 사랑의 노예
  • Farkasnász
  • アニマルズ 愛のケダモノ

Seen Hounds of Love?

FAQ

Hounds of Love FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Hounds of Love, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Hounds of Love?

Hounds of Love runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).

When was Hounds of Love released?

Hounds of Love was released on May 12, 2017.

Who directed Hounds of Love?

Hounds of Love was directed by Ben Young.

More films by Ben Young

Who is in the cast of Hounds of Love?

Hounds of Love stars Stephen Curry, Susie Porter and Harrison Gilbertson, among 10 credited actors.

How much did Hounds of Love make at the box office?

Hounds of Love grossed $234,419 worldwide.

How is Hounds of Love rated?

Hounds of Love has 6.5/10 on IMDb, 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

What awards did Hounds of Love win?

Hounds of Love won 1 award from 8 nominations, including Best Lead Actress at the AACTA Awards 2017.

Does Hounds of Love have a post-credit scene?

No. Hounds of Love has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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