Review of The Night of the Hunter (1955) by Tom B — 17 Dec 2010

Having seen it twice in six years, but not yet seen any of the supplements that come with this new blu-ray, I can say that it seems as though Laughton's personality shrieks and cackles and mutters and wallops and barks throughout the faces of these kooky characters, especially perhaps Mitchum and Laughton's alter-ego, Evelyn Varden.

As art goes, this is it, story informed by the director's eye, and heart. Visually reminiscent in tone of the Universal horror stuff that so affected Bergman, but more a descendant in spirit and subversiveness, and look of Bride Of Frankenstein, perhaps, than Dracula.

The word delicious is so clichà (C) these days, but this visual feast is intoxicating, a journey into subconsciousness and the liminal, with the awakeness of wide-eyed children, into the past, and grounded in the present, satire and humor collide with bedtime-story grandeur, it is in the very best way that I like to have a movie, to be like a dream.

A marvel and a treasure, I solemnly invoke and pronounce eternal worship of this almighty representation. Watch it with the kiddies on Christmas eve, it is, after all, a Christmas film, and about children.

Truly a gem to discover and keep discovering. Oh, if I could plunge the world into night then turn on all televisions in the land and run this film, we'd all awaken the next day and smile at the sunshine! Time to go down to the corner store and get me some jawbreakers 'n taffy!