The Night Of The Hunter cover art

The Night Of The Hunter Details

1955 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 6207 members

In this eerie meditation on good and evil, a schizophrenic preacher--possibly the devil himself--relentlessly hunts two small children (Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce) across the Depression-era Bible Belt to get at their dead father's stolen fortune. In Robert Mitchum's career-defining role as Reverend Harry Powell, he wears .. Read more

Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason
Director Charles Laughton
Genres Drama

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The Night Of The Hunter cover art

The Night Of The Hunter

In this eerie meditation on good and evil, a schizophrenic preacher--possibly the devil himself--relentlessly hunts two small children (Billy Chapin and Sally Jane Bruce) across the Depression-era Bible Belt to get at their dead father's stolen fortune. In Robert Mitchum's career-defining role as Reverend Harry Powell, he wears unforgettable tattoos of two four-letter words on his fingers: LOVE and HATE. Skillfully directed by Charles Laughton, the haunting thriller is the actor's only credited directorial effort.

Starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, Peter Graves, Don Beddoe, Billy Chapin
Director Charles Laughton
Studio MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 29 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Collections 100 Top Thrillers
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Dubbed French, German, Italian, Spanish
Hearing-impaired English, German
Subtitles DVD: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
Released DVD: 19 Mar 2001
Production year: 1955
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of The Night Of The Hunter

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  • 4 stars out of 4

    Weird, manic fantasy in which evil finally comes to grief against the forces of sweetness and light (the children, an old lady, water, animals). Although the narrative does not flow smoothly there are splendidly imaginative moments, and no other film has

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Laughton's only stab at directing, with Mitchum as the psychopathic preacher with 'love' and 'hate' tattooed on his... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
    • Posted 04 Nov 2008

  • Most helpful member's review of The Night Of The Hunter

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  • 17 out of 18 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    Pious Propaganda

    Robert Mitchum's performance aside this is a distinctly dire film. In turns patronising and pious. The religous and 'natural' symbolism is woefully dated and the child acting is terrible throuhgout. That said, Mitchum is outstanding and drags this moribund film along with his menacing presence and at times I actually cared what happened to the children. Mitchum once said of his own acting that he has two styles: with horse and without. He is a legend. This film, sadly is not legendary.

      • Jimmy Magnetic from The Mighty Midlands
      • Posted 20 Mar 2006 17:38

  • Most recent members' review of The Night Of The Hunter

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 0 stars

    the night of the hunter

    It is no wonder to me that this was Charles Laughtons only film direction.

    I suspect that he made this movie as a comedy and not to be taken to seriously.If he did,then I will award it two stars.

      • A customer from Clacton-on-Sea
      • Posted 13 May 2009 16:11

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Rating breakdown

6,207 Member ratings
  • 100
1,170
  • 90
779
  • 80
1,205
  • 70
976
  • 60
795
  • 50
471
  • 40
272
  • 30
211
  • 20
218
  • 10
110

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