The Night of the Hunter

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The Night of the Hunter

1955

1h 32m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

87 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

The Rev. Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is a religious fanatic and serial killer who targets women who use their sexuality to attract men. Serving time in prison for car theft, he meets condemned murderer Ben Harper (Peter Graves), who confesses to hiding $10,000 in stolen loot. Released from jail, Powell is obsessed with finding the money, and he tracks down Harper's widow, Willa (Shelley Winters), and her two children, John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce).

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Critics Consensus

Featuring Robert Mitchum's formidable performance as a child-hunting preacher, The Night of the Hunter is a disturbing look at good and evil.

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Gavin Lambert

Sight & Sound

The Night of the Hunter doesn't altogether, as they say, "come off," but it is a film of extremely individual flavour, and its daring, its indifference to convention, make it uniquely surprising for a Hollywood production today.

Oct 2, 2020

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Times (UK) Staff

The Times (UK)

Mr. Charles Laughton directs, and, since Mr. Laughton is a highly intelligent man, nothing that he does is without interest. The Night of the Hunter is indeed none the less interesting for being a failure.

Oct 2, 2020

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Philip K. Scheuer

Los Angeles Times

It is doubtful that you will ever hear the old hymn, 'Learning,' again without recalling the gaunt, flapping figure of Preacher Powell as he lams it out in the dark night -- to the terror of the listening youngsters

Jun 28, 2019

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Noah Berlatsky

Everything is Horrible (Substack)

Where Hitchcock locates horror in mothers, queer people, and a disordering of the patriarchal order, Laughton’s killer is the Christian patriarch himself.

Jul 31, 2025

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Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

The Night of the Hunter wouldn’t work without the Expressionist-tinged cinematography of Stanley Cortez, who creates just the right degree of visual unreality to combine the fable-like story with the realistic surroundings in which it takes place.

Rated: 9/10

Jun 1, 2025

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Lisa Laman

Culturess

This astonishing masterpiece really has no shortage of impressive details.

Feb 5, 2025

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Melissa L

I'm glad this ends up with a happy ending.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

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Jake G

This has got to be my favorite movie of all time, no joke. An unforgettable performance from Robert Mitchum and general great acting all around. The use of lighting to depict the edges of good and evil is what gives this movie such a chilling tone. Would totally recommend to anyone

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/19/25

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tucker s

Absolutely brilliant film. Robert Mitchum does a masterful job playing the precursor to other nefarious criminals like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/02/25

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Lanfranco C

Symbolic and essential crime movie

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/12/25

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don c

Hard to believe this was considered a great film. It hasn't aged well, but an updated version in the hands of the right people would be welcome.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

Doug K

I was more impressed by this when I first saw it years ago. Just watched it again, and was too aware of the flaws in story-telling. It's still visually impressive, and for Charles Laughton's only directorial attempt, it's laudable. But it's aggravating to watch so many errors being made by the characters, in actions and decisions taken, and whom they choose to believe. There are more lovely subtleties than you'll find in today's films, and the performances are fun to watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/03/25

Full Review

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Charles Laughton

Director

Robert Mitchum

Rev. Harry Powell

Shelley Winters

Willa Harper

Lillian Gish

Rachel Cooper

Evelyn Varden

Icey Spoon

Peter Graves

Ben Harper

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - He Ain't My Dad

2:40

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - The Devil Wins Sometimes

3:12

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - Love and Hate

2:10

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - Harry Speaks to the Lord

2:04

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - They Abide and They Endure

1:28

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Synopsis

The Rev. Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) is a religious fanatic and serial killer who targets women who use their sexuality to attract men. Serving time in prison for car theft, he meets condemned murderer Ben Harper (Peter Graves), who confesses to hiding $10,000 in stolen loot. Released from jail, Powell is obsessed with finding the money, and he tracks down Harper's widow, Willa (Shelley Winters), and her two children, John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce).

Director: Charles Laughton
Producer: Paul Gregory
Screenwriter: James Agee, Charles Laughton
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Paul Gregory Productions
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 29, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 16, 2011
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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