Well, hello there, kind folks. If you’re visiting this blog of mine, I presume that you have a certain interest in the cinema. As for me, even since my early childhood, I have had a deep love of everything related to movies and television. As far as I can remember, I have been more at ease in front of a screen than in the yard, outside, playing. It is a great way to travel, though other people’s stories, without having to foot any kind of steep bill. Over the years, I feel that movie-watching has even fuelled my own creativity.

All that being said, I welcome you in my Cinephile’s Nest. I hope you enjoy it here, feel free to come back at any time. Here you will find reviews of current movies and older ones. TV shows also. Some classics that have remained some of my favourites, some that have disappointed me. I will use a very basic star (*) system to grade them from 1 to 5 (5 being sliced bread level). Remember, these are just my tastes. I will try to explain in each review what I liked about these particular movies, without giving spoilers.

Il y aura aussi des critiques en français pour les films francophones, car j'aime également le cinéma dans ma langue maternelle. Avant d'apprendre l'anglais, plus jeune, je louais des tonnes de films traduits en français, surtout ceux de Bud Spencer et Terrence Hill. Ma mère a eu le choc de sa vie lorsqu'un jour, dans la boîte d'un de ces films, Deep Throat avait malencontreusement inséré. Une expérience formatrice pour le jeune cinéphile que je suis.

Bienvenue à tous, amusez-vous bien.

I welcome you all here, enjoy yourself.

Monday, December 7, 2015

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Genre: Film Noir
Directed by: Charles Laughton
Starring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish
Running time: 92 minutes



Reverend Harry Powell travels through small towns preaching and killing people. After he gets arrested for a small crime, he spends time in jail with a man about to be hanged. He comes to find out that his cellmate stashed quite a bit of money around his house, where his wife and two kids are still living. The man has instructed his young son to protect his younger sister and to never tell anyone where the money is, but, upon his release, Powell sets his sight on that man’s family, hoping to get the massive loot.

Robert Mitchum is absolutely spectacular as Reverend Powell, a despicable man who uses his charms to get his way and kill people. The scenes of him singing alone in the night, so as to let the people afraid of him know he’s coming, are truly frightening. Billy Chapin was also very good for his young age as the boy trying to protect his dead father’s money from Powell.

Originally, The Night of the Hunter did not gather much success for Charles Laughton, but this film has come to influence many a director with its expressionistic style. The use of shadows, sets, camera angles and such is a wonderful thing to see for movie-lovers out there.

I really enjoyed The Night of the Hunter. The pace is slow and deliberate, making the movie scarier in the process. Things fell apart a little and got corny in the end, but, overall, this classic film offers a compelling storyline directed by a talented moviemaker and delivered on screen by a solid cast.

Rating: ««««
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