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Amazon.co.uk Review
In the entire history of American movies, The Night of the Hunter stands out as the rarest and most exotic of specimens. It is, to say the least, a masterpiece--and not just because it was the only movie directed by flamboyant actor Charles Laughton or the only produced solo screenplay by the legendary critic James Agee (who also co-wrote The African Queen). The truth is, nobody has ever made anything approaching its phantasmagoric, overheated style in which German expressionism, religious hysteria, fairy-tale fantasy (of the Grimm-est variety), and stalker movie are brought together in a furious boil. Like a nightmarish premonition of stalker movies to come, Night of the Hunter tells the suspenseful tale of a demented preacher (Robert Mitchum, in a performance that prefigures his memorable villain in Cape Fear), who torments a boy and his little sister--even marries their mixed-up mother (Shelley Winters)--because he's certain the kids know where their late bank-robber father hid a stash of stolen money. So dramatic, primal, and unforgettable are its images--the preacher's shadow looming over the children in their bedroom, the magical boat ride down a river whose banks teem with fantastic wildlife, those tattoos of LOVE and HATE on the unholy man's knuckles, the golden locks of a drowned woman waving in the current along with the indigenous plant life in her watery grave--that they're still haunting audiences (and filmmakers) today. --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com
Special Features
1.33 Full Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu
Chapter Selection
Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Italian\Norwegian\Portuguese\Spanish\Swedish
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English\German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital Mono
Original Theatrical Trailer
Interactive Menu
Chapter Selection
Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Italian\Norwegian\Portuguese\Spanish\Swedish
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique masterpiece,
By
This review is from: The Night of the Hunter [DVD] [1955] (DVD)
A fine example of the "one man's meat is another man's poison" cliche, this film is a fantastic masterpiece to those, like me, who succumb to its wonderful magic, and an incomprehensibly overrated disappointment to those who don't.It is almost impossible to categorise: is it gothic horror, thriller or dark (and occasionally sentimental) fairytale? Perhaps a combination of all three, and it is indeed in moments of transition that some of the haunting nature of this movie is revealed. As Mitchum's terrifying pursuit of the childrens segues into their river escape, the tone switches from nailbiting terror to gorgeous "magic reality" in the wake of his roar of disappointment, ready for the good fairy (Lilian Gish) to turn up downriver. Just to name my own favourite moment; there are plenty of others (the wife at the bottom of the river being the most oft-quoted). And what stunning, overwrought yet just right, performances there are from Mitchum (possibly his best ever), Winters and others. Anyone coming to this film expecting a simple, unified, realistic narrative will indeed be disappointed, but those ready to give themselves to a world of symbol and shadow, light and darkness (what fantastic cinematography!), and pure, fairytale good and evil need seek no further. This is not an "old" film: it is timeless, and eternally beautiful. Don't be afraid; jump in and submerge yourself. But don't drown...
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
True Cinema Genius,
By
This review is from: The Night of the Hunter [DVD] [1955] (DVD)
Remember those dreams where you were being chased by a dark baddie monster and as you tried to escape everything seemed to go in slow motion - like running through treacle? Remember how scared you were.Remember those black and white surrealist films by Jean Cocteau or Luis Bunuel that depict the human psyche so well - that plays with light and dark and are masterpieces of psycho-chiaroscuro. Remember how few movies could create a bestselling poster out of any single movie frame, for instance Yellow Submarine. Watch this film NOW and you will remember its genius for a life time. You will never tire of watching it again and again. It touches something deep inside us all.
41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
is there a better movie ?,
By Mr Ed (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Night of the Hunter [DVD] [1955] (DVD)
I just got a DVD player and this is the 1st film I had to buy. You have not seen it until you see it clear and bright as the lighting and photography of this true masterpiece are also in the starring roles here. There is no other movie like it (which explains why it bombed so unjustly at release time) and I for one believe it to be at least one of the top 10 of all times. The people who do not like this simply do not get this as it escapes all labelling and takes you from opposites genres to emotions.This is best viewed with a child eye view as the story is told through(largely) a child point of view. it is one of the greatest film of all times and if you give it a bit of your time and undivided attention it will enthrall you, make you smile, scare the bejesus out of you and leave you with so many haunting images that you will carry with you for ever,(Shelley Winters in the lake, Mitchum jumping in front of Gish and her gun, LOVE and HATE knuckles...You will be humming LEANING,LEANING also for a long time) If you never see another film, just see this one as even though it is a classic it is also approachable by anyone who has ever been thrilled by cinema, connoisseur or just movie goer...
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