70 Years Ago, This 4.3-Rated Cult Thriller Bombed So Badly It Ended the Director’s Career!

Directed by actor Charles Laughton, “The Night of the Hunter” is now universally hailed as one of the greatest films of all time. It ranks 71st in the history of cinema by Empire magazine, 25th by Sight and Sound magazine, and 2nd in the “100 Essential Films for an Ideal Film Archive” list published by Cahiers du Cinéma. This praise is a far cry from the initial reception of the film upon its release.

A Resounding Flop

Charles Laughton’s debut feature film, “The Night of the Hunter,” premiered in 1955 in the United States and it was a disaster. Shunned by audiences and panned by critics, it was even banned in some American counties for its “religious immorality.” The harsh reception was so traumatic for Laughton that he never directed another film again. He passed away in 1962, seven years later, long before film historians reevaluated his work.

A Timeless Masterpiece

A gothic thriller heavily influenced by expressionist silent cinema, “The Night of the Hunter” was simply ahead of its time. Filmed in black and white during an era when studios were transitioning to color, Laughton’s artistic choice was completely against the grain of contemporary standards, which favored realism and coherence. This was reflected in a review from Harrison’s Reports at the time: This film might appeal to those who frequent art house cinemas in search of original films, but the majority of viewers will see it as a confusing melodrama with disjointed editing.

Aesthetically “behind” by revisiting the codes of silent cinema, the film was morally “too ahead” of its time: the story of a serial killer masquerading as a pastor to rob grieving widows and kill their children was shockingly offensive to the audience back then. “The Night of the Hunter” faced particular backlash from Catholic (League for Virtue) and Protestant (Protestant Film Council) religious lobbies for daring to portray a negative religious figure, played by an “attractive” actor like Robert Mitchum!

It must be acknowledged that “The Night of the Hunter” was indeed shocking for its time. Dark and enigmatic, this visually stunning thriller features a character of diabolical immorality and was audaciously written like a fairy tale: a story of young children needing to escape a wolf disguised as a family friend. This was likely too revolutionary for its time, something that Charles Laughton greatly regretted during his final years. Fortunately, history has vindicated him.

If you also want to right this wrong, you have until December 31 to watch The Night of the Hunter on Prime Video.

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