"The Night Of The Hunter" (film) -- worth renting?

[brentspeak]

Just read a review which describes this film as an "under-appreciated classic". However, I've been disappointed before with "under-appreciated classics".

[some guy]

1. definitely

Robert Mitchum is scarey in that film.

[Ikonoklast]

2. Yes.

Robert Mitchum played a great role. 'Harry Powell' gave me the jeebers first time I saw the film.

Great cinematography.

[Cant trust em]

3. It's scary in a 1959 kind of way

I saw this movie a few weeks ago. It's worth spending 4 bucks on.

[WinkyDink]

4. It is a seriously brilliant film.

[FloridaJudy]

5. Scared the fertilizer out of me.

Robert Mitchum is truly menacing as the psychopathic preacher.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Of all the recent talk about great cinematic psychopathic villians and monologues...

I can't believe nobody mentioned The Night of the Hunter.

"Oh, little lad, you're staring at my fingers. Would you like me to tell you the little story of right-hand/left-hand? The story of good and evil? H-A-T-E! It was with this left hand that old brother Cain struck the blow that laid his brother low. L-O-V-E! You see these fingers, dear hearts? These fingers has veins that run straight to the soul of man. The right hand, friends, the hand of love. Now watch, and I'll show you the story of life. Those fingers, dear hearts, is always a-warring and a-tugging, one agin t'other. Now watch 'em! Old brother left hand, left hand he's a fighting, and it looks like love's a goner. But wait a minute! Hot dog, love's a winning! Yessirree! It's love that's won, and old left hand hate is down for the count!"

[KansDem]

7. I believe it was Charles Laughton's only directorial endeavor...

Robert Mitchum does an excellent job, as does the rest of the cast. Walter Schumann did the score and his music (heavy on the low brass) does much to add to the overall sinister mood.

I find the movie "unsettling."

[sarge43]

16. It was. Pity. n/t

[SeattleGirl]

8. It's a great film.

Definitely worth renting.

[cemaphonic]

9. worth buying

It's a great movie, with one of the creepiest villains ever, and some truly memorable imagery. (One of the reasons it was unsuccessful in its original release was that the visual style was closer to the older German Expressionist movies of the the silent era than the realistic approach that has dominated ever since).

And you'll get to see the origin of the Love/Hate jailhouse tattoo thing that has been quoted in "Rocky Horror", "Do the Right Thing," et al.

It does have an annoyingly cloying ending though.

[WinkyDink]

11. You might want to delete that last sentence......(it's called "suspense").

[mitchum]

13. "Laughton went back and added lace doilies and root beer floats...

to the movie. I liked it better darker" Big Bob Mitchum

[orleans]

10. from a movie review website:

from 2005:

My favorite choice, however, (and I’ll write
about it in-depth in an upcoming column) is The Night of the Hunter (August 9). This tale of a serial killer
disguised as a preacher (Robert Mitchum at his malevolent best) in search of stolen money was the only film
directed by closeted gay actor Charles Laughton. It’s an inspired choice for the Grant Park setting and I’ll be
staking out my lawn space early that night. Further information on the festival (which is free to the public) at 312-
744-3315
http://www.knightatthemovies.com/Knight_at_the_Movies_H...

btw--he loves this movie

[mitchum]

12. Yes, it is very much worth renting

very much so

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. One of Robert Mitchum's best performances

A classic film noir, and proof that the inherent evil of a normal, flesh & blood human being can be about 100 times scarier than a guy wearing makeup with bolts on his neck.

I never realized that the film was "under" appreciated...but regardless of that, N.O.T.H. is all about atmosphere, characters, and the focused insanity of Mitchum's character. There are no car chases or shoot-outs or explosions or sex scenes, which may explain why it's "under-appreciated."

[sarge43]

15. Oh yes.

Mitchum's performance alone is worth it. God, that man could scare the stuff out of you.