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.

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