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The Night of the Hunter (1955) More at IMDbPro »

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Scared me as kid, Perplexed me as an adult, 6 March 2003

Author: David H. Schleicher from New Jersey, USA

This oddity from the 1950's about an evil preacher chasing down two kids for money after marrying and murdering their mom (a pretty bleak and dark plot line for the happy-go-lucky post-war baby boom and suburban boom decade) scared the living daylights out of me when I was a little kid. Watching it as an adult I didn't quite feel the suspense, but could see why this film tricked me as a child. The score and songs used herein are creepy, and the "stagey" set designs and lighting and camera tricks are pure American Gothic. Actor turned director Charles Laughton lays on the atmosphere very thick. It's rare to see a suspense thriller from this time so deliberately artistic and moody that wasn't a traditional noir film. For a first film, this one is a slam dunk in terms of the direction, so it is a crying shame Laughton never directed again. Also, Robert Mitchum embodies the sinister preacher perfectly and delivers a truly classic performance. However, all other acting is terrible, especially the children and poor Lillian Gish. And, alas, since this is not a real noir film, all the cynicism is wiped away in the end. I'm all for happy endings in the right type of films, but this just did not work for me. Curiously, this is one of those revered "classics" that might actually be interesting to remake if the right director handled the project and put as much thought and effort into it as Laughton (perhaps a Christopher Nolan type), though I doubt anyone could ever fill Mitchum's shoes.

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