Review for Night of the Hunter

Night of the Hunter

Director: Charles Laughton

"And a little child shall lead them.”

Introduction

Based on a 1953 novel by Davis Grubb, Charles Laughton's 1955 film adaption has long been hailed a masterpiece, despite being dismissed by critics and audiences alike upon its debut. Noted for its powerhouse leading performance from Robert Mitchum, the film is also noteworthy as a result of its legacy as actor Laughton's sole directorial effort.
Laughton etched out a name for himself as an actor in the 30's, on both the big screen and on stage. He would go on to star in such notable titles as Mutiny on the Bounty, Les Miserables, and Alfred Hitchock's, Jamaica Inn. One of his most memorable outings came in 1939 with the excellent adaption of The Hunchback of Notre Dame by William Dieterle, while his later career suffered from inconsistency and occasionally bizarre choices.

Arrow's new Blu-Ray edition of Night of the Hunter arrives boasting a HD restoration struck from the 35mm print, and includes a slew of extras.

Film

Depression era West Virginia sees the sentencing to death of criminal Ben Harper (Peter Graves). The misguided but devoted Husband and Father has hidden his loot, telling only his son of its whereabouts, despite the attempts of cell-mate, Reverend Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) to discover its location. Following Harper's hanging, the priest/serial killer pursues the money, charming the local townsfolk, and striking up a dalliance with Harper's widow (played by Shelley Winters), in his attempt to gain the money. Powell manipulates his way into their lives, but something is clearly wrong, and it is only a matter of time before his true nature is revealed and his patience gives way.


From the outset, this is something a little different from the usual thriller, or even your typical slice of Southern Gothic.

Wildly expressionistic shots are at odds with the majority of Hollywood output from the period. Laughton plays heavily on shadows and lighting tricks, creating a sense of unease throughout. Whether it's in clever camera tomfoolery revealing the children hiding in the basement through a window, or Mitchum's sunrise encased figure striding along the horizon on horseback, there are numerous beautifully composed moments.
Scenes on the river in particular, look astonishingly textured and burst with vivid detail and contrast. Laughton has a knack for capturing an undercurrent of malevolence along with the ripples of the water... At no point does the audience feel comfortable. It would spoil the plot for the uninitiated to say more, but a chase sequence of sorts around two-thirds of the way in, is both horrifyingly uncomfortable and absolutely gripping.

The story also moves along rather briskly, thought hardly rushes through proceedings. There are plenty of gaps left to fill in by the viewer, at times it is taken for granted that audiences can read between lines and add their own sense of time passing, rather than constantly being informed and hammered with information. It's the sort of detail that has helped Night of the Hunter stand the test of time, in addition to being ground-breaking.

The key secret that makes Night of the Hunter so memorable, is that it is one of the most stylishly simple films of the period. The sense of disenfranchisement and disillusionment surrounding the children is palpable. They really are a down on-their-luck and most unfortunate, with an in-denial-mother, and a psychopathic step father. The feeling of John being almost alone and misunderstood is the sort of loneliness that one can easily relate to.


If there's one criticism to be had, it is perhaps in how swiftly Mitchum moves into Willa's life and takes over. It's not perhaps conducive to feeling sympathy for her, though fortunately, the connection with the children is much more immediate, effective, and vital.

Performances are generally very good, with Billy Chapin impressing as the observant, inquisitive and brave young John. At just twelve, Chapin's range is remarkable, although those more attuned to the less formal and rigid acting of today, will likely not appreciate his technical ability. He manages to avoid being overshadowed by five-year-old Sally Jane Bruce, who despite being much less subtle, is devastatingly vulnerable and naive in her role as his little sister, Pearl.
Winters does a fine job as their mother too, appearing fraught with need and loss, though her character is a little underwritten, and if the pace of the story does anyone a disservice, it is perhaps her character.

The film's place in history however, is largely due to the absolutely terrifying performance of Robert Mitchum.
There's a sense of menace as a disapproving Mitchum clenches his left fist in a peep show , inked with the word "hate" across his knuckles. He's introduced to us like this early on; a man with a virtuous role, yet completely lacking in virtue and devoid of a functional moral compass.
When Powell arrives at the town, the train he rides in on is lit in an ominous silhouette, accompanied by the deranged, threatening music of Walter Schumann, which is only further emphasised when he watches John and Pearl from outside their house, framed via his sinister outline once more. He's almost a phantom, carrying with him terrible threat, an almost grim-reaper like ambiance.

Only Evelyn Varden, as Icey Spoon, feels a little over=the-top. Exuberant and melodramatic, her shenanigans do grate a little, but the heightened melodrama really is of its time, and certainly is not difficult to adjust to for the most part. Indeed the oppressive sense of foreboding exhibited elsewhere is so strong, the movie comes across as perhaps more sinister than any other of its type.

Extras

Night of the Hunter looks and sounds fabulous on Blu-Ray. Aerial shots near the beginning remain epileptically jittery, while only a handful of the darker interiors show their age in very brief instances. Overall though, this presentation looks stunning. Exteriors on the river look especially crisp, and make the most of Laughton and Cinematographer Stanley Cortez's eye for a superbly composed frame.

Included among the extras is a fascinating 12 minute archival interview with Cortez during which the DP sheds a little light (no pun intended!) on his working relationship with the inexperienced director.

The main selling point of the package though, is surely its "Making of Documentary" which runs a staggering two hours and forty minutes. This is the sort of superior feature that not only serves as the last visual word on the film, but is also is an excellent example of the standard film buffs expect and deserve to be paying top dollar for.
Arrow's set also includes an isolated score and sound effects track, the original trailer, and their usual array of physical extras- a reversible sleeve, and a collector's booklet.



Overall

Night of the Hunter really is a unique oddity in Arrow Academy line-up. A film that has alternately been classed among horror cinema, thrillers, and perversely frightening characters studies, it transcends any label and demands to be seen. It's disturbing and unsettling, yet hugely entertaining, and in this Blu-Ray release, benefits from being granted a top drawer presentation. Arrow's package could not be recommended more highly.