The Night of the Hunter

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1 hr. 32 min.

Mystery & Thriller

List

93%

86 Reviews

Tomatometer

90%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Asa H

Not only extraordinary screenplays and tour de force acting.. but one of the most imaginative and dramatic piece of film work of all time.. Striking pioneering filming that is unequalled even with today's advanced technology.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

Full Review

Alec C

Beware the false prophet, who is hiding in plain sight! After their father is imprisoned, a charismatic preacher inserts himself in the lives of two children who is hiding some murderous intentions and is pursuing the money stolen by their father. A dark and tragic tale of lost innocence, religious fanaticism and a consistent sense of danger throughout!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

Full Review

Jeff M

I haven't had the occasion to whip out the "M" word in ages - but this is a masterpiece! If all horror films and thrillers were one-tenth of this quality, it would be a much better cinematic universe. It's impossible to know where to begin with the superlatives, but let's start with Mitchum giving us one of the great villains in cinema history. He is Norman Bates/Hannibal Lecter good, perhaps even beyond. It's a disturbing, electrifying performance that immediately joins my list of all-time greats. This is the only movie directed by Laughton, himself an Oscar-winning actor, and one can't help but wonder what we as the audience missed out on. There are images that will haunt me till my dying day, moments of such intensity I found myself talking to the screen, which never happens. This is a textbook example of how to create a motion picture of this genre, and it deserves to be studied for decades to come. It's almost eerie how much of this is still relevant for today - I suppose the true classics are indeed timeless. It's pointless to say much more, although I could go on for days. This is why I love cinema!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

Edward K

Very good film. Based on a true story. Good story, good acting, good direction. Robert Mitchum is as evil and scary in this as in "Cape Fear". They say this was filmed in West Virginia, but I don't recognize anything. And of course, the legendary Lillian Gish. Wow. And a happy ending which all films should have. Well done.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

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Steve D

No real surprises here but entertaining.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

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Joel H

When I first saw The Night of the Hunter years ago, it really made an impression on me. Robert Mitchum just plays such a deplorable character that it's difficult to get him out of your mind. The way Harry Powell twists religion into something evil to manipulate people and justify his actions is so frustrating to watch. And then you have Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) on the other side, bringing some much-needed warmth and light into this cold & dark story. To be honest, the child actors aren't very strong, and the pacing is a little uneven, but overall this suspenseful film is definitely worth watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/23

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

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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 - It's in the Doll!

2:49

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - The Sleepless Hunter

1:54

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - Two Pretty Children

1:29

The Night of the Hunter: Official Clip - Harry Murders Willa

2:23

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 - Making a Promise

1:54

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

1:28

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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

Full Review

Times (UK) Staff

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

Full Review

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

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

In one of his greatest roles, Mitchum makes as indelible an impression...

Jan 2, 2024

Full Review

Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

Charles Laughton’s sole directorial work hauntingly laid the groundwork for “from hell” movies of the ’80s and ’90s.

Dec 16, 2023

Full Review

Kristy Strouse

Cinematic Lovelies

Daringly daunting, The Night of the Hunter is a beautifully dark dose of cinema’s best.

Sep 2, 2023

Full Review

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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
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
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm

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