First movie of the year was Night of the Hunter, a Southern Gothic masterpiece from 1955 and well worth turning out for on a cold, wet afternoon. The BFI lists it, bizarrely, as one of the top 10 films you should see by the time you're 14, which is several decades too late for me - and at 14, I'd have much preferred a rom-com. Now I can appreciate the superb black and white photography, Robert Mitchum as a sinister preacher and Lilian Gish, who could have stepped straight out of a silent movie. Reviews here and here. BFI until Feb 6.
5 comments:
At 14 this one would have given me nightmares, in fact it probably still would, but I loved Robert Mitchum in it.
Brrrrr.... I don't think I could possibly watch it.
Maybe 14yo who go to the BFI are more sophisticated than we were, Janet. MItchum was brilliant - but I don't think my 14yo niece would go for it.
Susan, it's not horror fim scary, just chilling and nightmarish.
Strangely enough I did see this at about 14 or 15. This was around 1970 that it screened on Sunday tv in NZ (Cinema Matinee or Cinema Parade which screened old Hollywood films). I don't remember the plot but some images, and Mitchum in particular, have stuck with me all these years. I should really see it again.
There are some very memorable images, Sally - not just Love/hate, but Mitchum on the horse silhouetted against the sky. I'm glad I saw it.
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