The Night of the Hunter

The Night of the Hunter is a 1953 novel by American author, Davis Grubb. The book was a national bestseller and was voted a finalist for the 1955 National Book Award.

Response

Upon its release, Night of the Hunter was not a success with either audiences or critics. This response is probably a reason that the film was the only one Laughton ever directed.

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Laughton drew heavily on the harsh, angular look of 1920s expressionist films, such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, and some sequences are very dreamlike.

Related Topics:
1920s - Expressionist films - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - Dream

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Stanley Cortez' striking cinematography has been noted and imitated, and Mitchum's chilling and sinister performance has been especially praised.

Related Topics:
Stanley Cortez - Cinematography

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Despite its initial lack of success, Night of the Hunter later found a cult following, and has since been praised as a masterpiece, and one of the finest of films noir.

Related Topics:
Cult following - Films noir

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Roger Ebert has written of the film, "It is one of the most frightening of movies, with one of the most unforgettable of villains, and on both of those scores it holds up ... well after four decades (.)" http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatmovies/night_of_hunter.html

Related Topics:
Roger Ebert - Villain

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