Some thrillers only need a great villain to grab you from the start, and "The Night of the Hunter" features one of the absolute best. Directed by Charles Laughton in his only turn behind the camera, this 1955 masterpiece initially bombed, crushed by brutal reviews that stopped Laughton’s directing career before it could take off. Adapted from Davis Grubb’s novel, it’s a film that was criminally ahead of its time. Now streaming on Prime Video, it’s your chance to give this forgotten classic the love it always deserved.
Set in Depression-era West Virginia, the story follows Ben Harper (Peter Graves), who robs a bank, kills two men, and hides the loot with his young son, John, making the boy swear to keep the secret from everyone, including his mother. While awaiting execution, Ben shares a cell with Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum), a chilling traveling preacher. Once Ben meets his fate, Powell hits the road to target the widow, hunt down the cash, and set off a series of sinister mind games.
