Heart of the Hunter follows Zuko Khumalo, a former elite assassin called back into action following his mentor’s death. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary:
Zuko Khumalo was part of an elite team of assassins focused on eliminating threats to the integrity of the country.
He served under Johnny Klein and went on several missions before getting disillusioned with the job. He killed a target in front of their young son and he began to question their purpose.
Zuko disappeared into the ether, but Johnny continued the fight. His primary focus was Daza Mtima, the corrupt individual hoping to become the next president of the country.
He is under investigation by the government but the case is close to getting thrown out due to lack of evidence.
Klein has that evidence, but he is being hunted down by the President’s Intelligence Agency (PIA) and its head, Molobogeng Kwena.
Mo has enlisted a private security company headed by a man named Tiger to find Klein, but he remains one step ahead of them.
Zuko is living a calm domestic life with his girlfriend, Mailme Mambi, and her son, Pakamile. Klein shows up at his doorstep but Zuko says that he is done with that life.
Mtima pressures Mo to capture Klein so that they can find out what dirt he has on the presidential hopeful.
Klein has the files hidden and pleads with Zuko once more to retrieve them before adding that he has cancer and doesn’t have much longer to live.
Tiger pursues Klein through the streets of the city before they stop at an incomplete highway. Klein shoots himself in the head and falls off the edge.
Before dying, he called up disgraced reporter Mike Bressler and told him that he had some files coming to him that would help him bring down Mtima.
Bressler begins working on the case after seeing news of Klein’s death on television. A woman named Naledi Gumede was Johnny’s mole at the PIA.
She also reports to Thandiwe Makeba, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs. Zuko is told to head to Maseru, where their unit, the Alkebulan originated.
With Zuko on the run, Mo has the PIA bring in Mailme for questioning, even though she doesn’t know anything.
Naledi is exposed and during her escape, she tries to take Malime with her. However, there is an accident and Malime falls to her death with Naledi getting away.
Naledi contacts Bressler while Mo visits Makeba. They simultaneously learn about the Alkebulan and Zuko’s role within it as Zuko faces off against Tiger.
He overcomes Tiger’s threat and gets on a helicopter to Maseru. Mo kills Makeba in a moment of desperation and then orders that Pakamile be brought in.
They want to use the boy as bait to lure Zuko in. Zuko arrives in Maseru and finds the files Klein had hidden away.
After spending some time recovering, he heads back to get the job done.
Ending explained:
Doing his duty
Zuko contacts Bressler and tells him that he has the files. They pick a place to meet and Zuko agrees to hand them over if he gets help finding his family.
Bressler takes him back home where Zuko meets Naledi after a long time. She is distraught as she shares the news of Malime’s death.
Zuko called Naledi’s phone earlier but Mo picked up and she said that she has Pakamile with her. She tells Tiger to stay close and kill Zuko the first chance he gets.
Bressler finds all the evidence against Mtima in the hard drive, but Zuko insists that it goes to print only after he finds his son.
Naledi gives Zuko the location of Mtima’s cabin so that he can go there and bargain for Pakamile.
Cutting the snake’s head
Zuko infiltrates the cabin and holds Mtima hostage. Mtima tries to make a deal with Zuko but he isn’t interested.
He calls Mo and tells her to bring Pakamile there or watch Mtima die. Tiger descends on the cabin with a team of soldiers but Zuko picks them out one by one.
He then takes on Tiger and breaks his arm. Mo shows up with a gun to Pakamile’s head as Mtima tells her to kill them.
Instead, Mo kills Mtima and is about to shoot Zuko when Naliedi intervenes and kills Mo.
Tiger is about to shoot Zuko but Naledi incapacitates him. She is about to kill him but Zuko stops her.
A new life
Bressler prints the expose in the next day’s paper as news of Mtima and Mo’s deaths is also broadcast.
Zuko takes Pakamile back to where he grew up where they have bought a farm to work on.
He can fulfill his dream of living a peaceful life with Pakamile, even though Malime isn’t there to enjoy it with them.
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