This film hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves. The best way to describe it would be a "dark fairy tale". It's much, much more than a "stalker movie" -- which is how the previous reviewer described it. In fact, it can't be called a stalker movie at all. Rather, it's an allegorical tale of good and evil (and also of naivete -- believe it or not it's the adults who are mostly naive and the children who listen to their instincts in this tale). The directing AND acting are brilliant. It dances on the cusp of the subconscious with a sophisticated touch, never going over the top. The use of light and dark, stage locations, shadows and sound are all handled deftly and again, the acting is brilliant. Lillian Gish, Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters each handle their roles in unexpected ways (going against the grain of their standard fare). This film is a gem that is not to be missed, dismissed or oversimplified, and it's complexity and layers are to be savored. Sophisticated film lovers are in for a real treat.
Review of The Night of the Hunter
