Emotional spectrum

In “The Hunting Party,” a disgraced journalist (Richard Gere), his old colleague (Terrence Howard), and a network executive’s relative (Jesse Eisenberg) team up and hunt for the “Fox” (Ljubomir Kerekes), an elusive war criminal responsible for countless atrocities in Europe.

“The Hunting Party” mystifies, almost defying categorization because of its hybrid nature. A political thriller with darkly comic and staggeringly dramatic parts, the film manages to elicit almost every emotional reaction to its complicated situations.

Gere impresses with his layered portrayal of Simon Hunt, a reporter recovering from a very public meltdown. Simon, who’s seen firsthand the aftermath of the Fox’s attack on a helpless village, convinces Duck, his former cameraman played by Terrence Howard, to accompany him and find the hated figure’s whereabouts. Eisenberg completes the “hunting” team and plays Benjamin, basically the same awkward young geek he’s portrayed pre-“Social Network.”

The film has its solid, disconcerting moments, affecting primarily with its grim depiction of war and its unsavory details. The trio searching for the political leader offers some breezy buddy comedy, but there’s also heart-wrenching drama that calibrates them into a committed group of justice-seekers. The constant shifts in tone take some getting used to, but they keep the venture a bit unpredictable.