Review of The Night of the Hunter (1955) by Luke R — 11 Feb 2013

Hmm, before I proceed with the review just saying I preferred the old system of having a percent bar for ratings but no matter! I proceed anyway.

It's no secret that Robert Mitchum and film noir go together like butter and bread, but this film takes him away from the role of the rough and ready but ultimately moral private dick or similar and shows him as Revered Harry Powell; a mentally unstable travelling preacher, obsessed with the concept of damnation.?On release the film was critically panned by critics, a move which dissuaded director Charles Laughton, from every sitting in the director's chair again. To be fair, there are some flaws. The music the film relies on I found jarring; Mitchum, while often seen as being amazing in the role now, I found to be far less sinister than people make out, and in fact there are moments in the film which are more akin to a slapstick comedy (shelf of jars landing on Mitchum's head). Other moments that make the film seem a bit too comical are immediately after that when Mitchum chases the two children protagonists up the stairs with arms as stiff as ironing boards.?On the whole however, there is more that redeems the film that detracts from it. The performances are stellar all round, even from the children, which is very rare. The films leading lady is killed off half way through, something which I haven't seen in any other film bar Hitchcock's 'Psycho'. Some of the camera shots are sublime, such as when the children are hiding in the barn, and you see the blacked out silhouette of Powell riding in the distance. Obviously, most of the violence is off screen with it being an old film, but don't forget how risky this film was to make, and just how big a gamble it was for Mitchum to star in. The role of a mad travelling priest, murdering widows and making off with their money could have destroyed his career. Plus, there are some really nice shots of the life on the river.?The message, to move onto my final point, is really emphasised by the end. When the evil Powell meets his polar opposite in Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish), an adoptive mother hen figure, who teaches forgiveness, selflessness and purity as opposed to Powell's damnation, greed and perversion of religion to justify his actions.?All in all, a good film, and due to modern sensibilities not being like what they were in the past, one you can watch with the whole family. Four stars.??Goodnight, "Chilllll-drennnnn".