Review of The Night of the Hunter (1955) by Jacob F — 11 Jul 2017

The Night of The Hunter was actor Charles Laughton's first, and surprisingly only directorial effort. Based on the novel of the same name, written only a few years before this film adaptation. It tells the story of the manipulative, psychopathic, and murderous, preacher Henry Powell who after being arrested for car theft and sent to prison, comes into contact with a man that before being arrested, and sentenced to death by hanging, hid ten thousand dollars. Once Powell learns of this, he immediately goes after the money when he's released from jail. This sets the films plot in motion, where the only thing standing between him and the money are the mans two small, innocent kids.

The Night of The Hunter at its core is about the infinite battle between good and evil, and how one always eventually triumphs over the other. The message of this never ending battle is shown throughout the entire film. From Powells tattooed knuckles, reading love and hate, to the the final confrontation between the kind old woman, and Powell. The film also seems to have a message about the selfishness and corruptibility of humans. Powell believes that god agrees with his actions, but only because he's twisted everything in his own odd way. He is someone who was corrupted by the world long ago. John and Pearl on the other hand, the two young kids, are completely innocent, too young to have felt the corruption that the world they live in offers. This makes the encounter with the preacher even more frightening for them. By the end of the film Johns innocence is almost completely gone, and he just wishes the money never existed in the first place. It's almost a twisted coming of age story by the end.

The film, despite a slow, plot heavy beginning is worth watching. It uses shadows and the black and white format brilliantly, helping to create some creepy, unsettling scenes and imagery. Robert Mitchum is great as Powell, and the child actors do a solid job as well. Laughton does a great job directing, especially for a first film, thanks in no small part to Stanley Cortez's beautiful cinematography. Night of The Hunter was actually a critical and commercial failure on release in 1955, criticized for its taboo themes, and mixing of genres. This was extremely discouraging to Laughton, and stopped him from ever trying his hand at directing again. It's an absolute shame considering how well regarded the film has become over the last twenty years. It was sadly just a film that needed its audience to be a little more accepting, and open minded then they were at the time.