ironhorse_iv Review of The Night of the Hunter

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

It's a harsh world for little things. The night of the hunter is still pretty scary, even today.

[8/10 · 12 September 2014]

Wonderful direction by Charles Laughton. The movie is based off the 1953 novel of the same name by Davis Grubb, tells the story about a corrupt reverend-turned-serial killer, Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) who uses his charms to woo an unsuspecting widow, Willa Harper (Shelley Winters) and her two children, Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce) & John (Billy Chaplin) in an attempt to steal a fortune hidden by the woman's dead husband. The novel and film draw on the true story of Harry Powers, hanged in 1932 for the murders of two widows and three children in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Loosely based on it, Davis Grubb add his own sinister turn to it, making Harry Powell into a more frightening character by making a priest out of him. He can be both smooth and charming, while misogynist, opportunist, and evil, all at the same time. Robert Mitchum is great as a roaming preacher with blood on his hands. The acting for the most part is pretty good. Still, it can go a little 'over the top'. I don't know why Mitchum hate working with Shelley Winters as I found her acting to be well-done. I have to give mad praise to Lillian Gish as Rachel Cooper, a tough old woman who looks after stray children. The stand-off between them were amazing. The war of wills between Mitchum and Gish is the heart of the film's final third, a masterful blend of horror and lyricism. Mitchum's character professes to be a preacher, he assumes the role of the spiritualist, acting as the literal "wolf in sheep's (or shepherds) clothing". Lillian Gish's character is the actual spiritualist, her spirituality is evident in her course of actions, rather than her words and appearance. Even the children actors were pretty good. It's hard not to break down crying when Powell yells at Pearl. She was so charming. Even, the actor that did John, had a few good scenes. The arresting scene is one of them. Still, the film lost its menacing premise, when a ten year old and old woman can outwit the wily psychopath. It might be a real stretch of the imagination. It's make worst when the Preacher is made out to be an idiot, some scenes. Even his scream about getting hurt is over the top cartoony. It's such a high-pitched whooping sound that you would hear from a Three Stooges short film, not a horror movie. Still, it's a well written, creepy-as-hell Appalachian Gothic with a lot of symbolism. I love the symbolism of the pocket knife suddenly springing out during a peep show. Excellent way of highlighting the pathological repression driving the character. Add the line, 'There are too many of them... I can't kill a world!' with his look of disinterest & disgust. The stylized dialogues are the best. There are too many quotes that worth remember about. Some great examples are the love and hate tattoo speech. You got movie magic with how it was written. Even the camera shot of the owl and rabbit scene had so much depth. The whole river dream sequence was so surreal shot by Stanley Cortez, the cinematographer. While, it did look cheap-looking, it was unbelievably magical, scary, poignant and, well, a little unreal. It's not even slightly "realistic", yet it's truthful in a way that all great art aspires. Laughton drew on the harsh, angular look of German expressionist films of the 1920s. The film was shot in black and white in the styles and motifs of German Expressionism, having bizarre shadows, distorted perspectives, surrealistic sets, odd camera angles to create a simplified and disturbing mood that reflects the sinister character of Powell, the nightmarish fears of the children, and the sweetness of their savior Rachel. Due to the film's visual style and themes, it is also often categorized as a film noir. You get that feeling of abandonment - of hope mixed with dread. It did captures it so very well. It moves me deeply every time I see it. The film's score, composed and arranged by Walter Schumann in close association with director Laughton, features a combination of nostalgic and expressionistic orchestral passages. Grimmification of known bible verses and children's songs were used to eerie effect. The film has two original songs by Schumann, "Lullaby" (sung by Kitty White) and "Pretty Fly" (originally sung by Sally Jane Bruce but later dubbed by Betty Benson). A recurring musical device involves the preacher making his presence was by singing the traditional hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." The movie really push against the Hays Codes are the time. There was a very convincing drowning murder scene that nearly got the movie, pulled. Another one is the treatment of children. Even The Hays Code insisted at the time, that the children on film must be all right at the end. Overlooked when it was first release, The Night of the Hunter is now regarded as a classic. Sadly, Director Laughton never did directed another film. The film was remade in 1991 as a TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain, but it's not as good as this version. In 1992, The Night of the Hunter was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress got preservation in its National Film Registry. The movie later influence directors such as David Lynch, Martin Scorsese, and others with their works. Not only that, but villains were based on Mitchum's performance as Powell, such as Kane from Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Caleb from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Even The Simpsons' Sideshow Bob gets in on the action in one episode. Also, the movie became the inspiration for music songs from The Clash 'Death or Glory', or Thirty Seconds to Mars song of the same name. Overall: This movie is a classic masterpiece of suspense, horror and thriller. A must watch for any horror fan.