Night of the Hunter
 

I just caught this last night. I think this movie has moments of brilliantly sustained horror and an intensity that's well ahead of its time. For a tense, thrilling, think piece, I wholeheartedly recommend this. There are those who might argue it's not pure genre, but it's of interest to fans of the genre and has moments that are full of genuine terror that are sustained for such a time to indicate that they are made to frighten and provoke the audience and make them think as well. I believe this movie to be essential viewing to classic horror fans. In Kim Newman and Stephen King's Horror's 100 Greatest Books, the list included Lord of the Flies and Marlowe' s Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (yes, it's a play and not a book), so they acknowledge that horror as a genre is a highly expansive one that is open to much interpretation. It is on account of this expansiveness that I can claim Night of the Hunter is a great horror film. Anyone else's thoughts?

Agree 100%

Mitchum's performance is pure, seething malice. And to think it's the ONLY film written and directed by brilliant character actor Charles Laughton.

Sam will have something to say about this, I'm sure.:)

It's amazing that it's Laughton' s only film. He's got great instincts as a director and really benefits from the time he spent in front of the camera.

I agree - terrific film. It's always struck me that Mitchum's character in it, and his ability to keep coming back from things that seemed to kill him, was an influence on the unstoppable killing machines of the 80s like Jason and Michael Myers.

Sam

L O V E H A T E

I agree with that. I think it also influenced Stephen King's the Stand, or at least the Mick Garris miniseries. The scenes between Lilian Gish and Mitchum remind me a lot of what goes on between Flagg and Mother Abigail. It's a very bold and iconic confrontation, I think.