Looking for a film that’ll pin you to the edge of your seat? Hunting Jessica Brok will make you cry, gasp — maybe even shout at the screen.
Out in South African cinemas this weekend (and the States on 19 September 2025), the action-thriller is led by Danica De La Rey Jones, who steps into the role of Jessica Brok – a mother turned warrior forced to fight her way through both human and wilderness-sized dangers to get back to her daughter.
A Role Rooted In Reality
“When I read her bio, I felt like I knew her,” says Danica. “A mother… resilient. Both the nurturer and the animal. A woman in a man’s world. A survivor. She drew me in because I recognised that she represented so many women around me, not just myself. Stripped back, with no training, she could just be the woman standing next to you. With all her fears, nurturing, surviving, fighting. Audiences will connect with her because she represents the humanness of resilience. Beyond the action and the violence, it’s her warrior spirit that the audience will resonate with most.”
This isn’t your typical female cookie-cutter action lead. Forget sleek suits and superhero monologues – Jessica Brok fights her way through chaos in a cardigan. “I didn’t perform Jessica Brok, I felt like I lived her,” Danica tells us.
“She is not clean cut, she is the ultimate survivor. She breaks down. She’s terrified, but she moves with her fear. She meets it head-on, but it’s a struggle, not a stand-off. She isn’t calm and calculated, she’s defensive and instinctive. She is an animal. And she does it all in a cardigan.”
Why Hunting Jessica Brok Breaks the Action-Heroine Mould
For Danica, this role was about pushing back against the clichés that too often box female characters into one-dimensional stereotypes. “There isn’t only one kind of heroine because there isn’t only one kind of woman. There is no box, there is only the audacity to push the envelope even further. We need more representation. Action is not one thing. It doesn’t have to look the same every single time,” she says.
She makes a powerful point:
“We don’t want the same roles as men, we want our own heroes, on their own terms. We don’t want ‘South Africa’s John Wick’ – her name is Zenzi Mwale played by our very own Gail Mabalane. We don’t want ‘South Africa’s James Bond’ – her name is Queen Sono played by Pearl Thusi. We don’t want ‘South Africa’s Lara Croft’ – her name is Jessica Brok.”
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Women Fighting, Surviving, Winning
When asked what kind of stories women still need to see, Danica doesn’t hesitate: “As a woman in South Africa, I would love to see more women lead in action. The reason; we need to be reminded of what our bodies are capable of vs. what they look like. We need to be reminded of the spirit and fire that we have, beyond our struggles. We need to see women fighting on screen, surviving and winning.”
And the message she hopes audiences carry out of the cinema? “A new appreciation for the grit and resilience of women. We are built to survive.”
READ MORE: 5 Quotes About Confidence From Bontle Modiselle
It’s more than just another action thriller – it’s a reminder of the fire women carry. Ready to see it for yourself? Grab the popcorn, hit play on the trailer and clear your weekend plans – Jessica Brok is here.
