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The Night of the Hunter
1955 93 min United States of America 12+
★8.1
Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Charles Laughton
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
In Depression-era West Virginia, a serial-killing preacher hunts two young children who know the whereabouts of a stash of money.
Budget:
$795,000
Starring
Robert Mitchum
Actor
Shelley Winters
Actor
Lillian Gish
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
The Night of the Hunter is widely regarded as a visionary cinematic masterpiece that defies traditional genre constraints by blending crime thriller elements with a gothic, fairy-tale atmosphere. While a small minority of viewers find the moral simplicity and fairy-tale conclusion underdeveloped, the consensus celebrates the film's haunting visual style and Robert Mitchum's iconic performance.
| Acting | Robert Mitchum delivers a career-defining performance as a charismatic, malevolent preacher who serves as the film's terrifying moral anchor. | |
| Cinematography | The cinematography utilizes striking German expressionist techniques, including stark shadows and high-contrast lighting, to build an unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere. | |
| Originality | The film is a unique, genre-defying hybrid that successfully merges dark thriller tropes with a timeless, fable-like moral allegory. | |
| Theme | The religious themes and the protagonist's manipulation of faith offer a profound exploration of societal gullibility and the struggle between good and evil. | |
| Pacing | The narrative structure divides viewers; many find the progression masterful and immersive, while others find the pacing and the eventual transition into a simplistic fairy-tale ending to be underwhelming or disjointed. |