The Night of the Hunter 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

Kino Lorber's release of "The Night of the Hunter" in 4K UHD is a masterful presentation that does justice to Stanley Cortez's original cinematography. This version is based on a 4K scan of the original camera negative and includes a new High Dynamic Range (HDR) grade available in both Dolby Vision and HDR10. Viewers will immediately notice striking details and a sharpness that elevates the overall experience. The 1.66:1 aspect ratio is complemented by a nuanced brightness and well-balanced shadows, showcasing the film’s exquisite grayscale with remarkable depth. The black-and-white visuals are enhanced significantly, with darker nuances and daylight highlights that offer an impressive sense of depth and dynamic range.

The restoration has carefully maintained the integrity of the original film elements, including the film's grain structure and high contrast levels. Despite the inherent softness in scenes using optical processes like dissolves and superimpositions, the restoration ensures the rest of the film is as sharp and detailed as possible. The grain is exceptionally well-reproduced, though it might appear heavier than on theatrical prints. Notably, the HDR grades enhance contrast, providing more detail at both ends of the spectrum, making interior scenes shot on Kodak Tri-X stock achieve the deep blacks as intended.

While some may note the discrepancy in aspect ratio compared to Criterion's 2K Blu-ray release, it is not a significant issue as both ratios deliver satisfying presentations. Visual tricks, such as forced perspective and rear projection, hold up admirably under 4K scrutiny. Occasional imperfections like slight image quality shifts during optical transitions are present but expected for films of this era. Ultimately, this 4K UHD release offers an impressive visual experience, with Dolby Vision adding a dramatic punch to the striking grayscale, making it a definitive version worth celebrating.

The 4K UHD Blu Ray release of "The Night of the Hunter" offers two standard audio tracks: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Both tracks showcase a high degree of fidelity and clarity, essential for appreciating this classic film. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track remains faithful to the original audio, offering clear and stable sound that ensures dialogue and sound effects are crisp without any anomalies. The 5.1 track, while adding some processing to expand the soundstage, doesn’t diverge significantly from the 2.0 track, maintaining central and front-focused audio characteristics. This focus retains the eerie atmosphere, especially during iconic scenes featuring Walter Schumann's masterful score.

Comparisons between the Criterion Blu-ray edition and this release reveal only minor differences. Some viewers have noted slight nuances in the Criterion's original mono track, possibly offering a marginal edge in authenticity. However, both tracks on this release perform admirably, with clean and clear audio despite the film's vintage. The 5.1 mix does attempt to create a broader depth but is not particularly effective in delivering a full surround sound experience. It mainly distributes music and some ambient elements without aggressive sound effect spreads or dialog placement outside the front/center channel.

Overall, both DTS-HD MA 2.0 and 5.1 tracks offer a faithful audio experience, preserving the film’s original sound design while providing modern clarity. Dialogues are crystal clear, and elements like Harry’s unsettling melody and the dramatic score are effectively conveyed, ensuring that viewers can enjoy the timeless audio of "The Night of the Hunter" with minimal distractions. However, the surround experience in the 5.1 track remains limited, contributing more to music distribution than notable surround immersion.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray release of "The Night of the Hunter" features a comprehensive array of extras, expertly curated to enhance appreciation for this classic film. On the 4K disc, Tim Lucas provides an authoritative audio commentary rich in insights, covering everything from minute details to thematic analyses. This scholarly track is complemented by an isolated Music and Effects audio option, allowing fans to immerse in the film’s evocative score and sound design. The Blu-ray offers an array of featurettes, including Ernest Dickerson's focused discussion on the film’s visual power, Kathy Garver’s nostalgic recollections from her time on set, and Joe Coleman’s exploration of the film’s symbolism. These interviews, paired with vintage trailers, make for a valuable supplementary package that deepens one's understanding and appreciation of Charles Laughton’s directorial masterpiece.

Extras included in this disc:

• Commentary: New audio commentary by Tim Lucas.
• Music and Effects Track: Presented as a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track.
• Love and Hate: Ernest Dickerson discusses the film’s visuals.
• Little Lambs: Kathy Garver recalls her experiences on set.
• Hing, Hang, Hung: Joe Coleman delves into the film’s symbolism.
• Trailer One: Vintage trailer for The Night of the Hunter.
• Trailer Two: Remastered vintage trailer.

Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter" (1955) stands as a singular and remarkable film, often praised for its cinematic audacity and visual allure. Adapted from Davis Grubb's novel with a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize winner James Agee, the film delves into the darker facets of religion, sex, and money against the backdrop of the Great Depression. At its core is Robert Mitchum's chilling portrayal of Harry Powell, a predatory preacher who is both irresistibly charismatic and terrifyingly sinister.

Mitchum’s performance is nothing short of mesmerizing, playing a faux-religious figure with "LOVE" and "HATE" tattooed on his knuckles—a stark visual metaphor that underpins the film’s exploration of morality. The children, John (Billy Chapin) and Pearl (Sally Jane Bruce), stand in contrast to their gullible mother Willa (Shelley Winters), who becomes another victim of Powell’s deceit before meeting a tragic fate. The culmination of the children's escape to a protective guardian, played by Lillian Gish, serves as a powerful narrative pivot, emphasizing true faith versus false piety.

Visually, "The Night of the Hunter" is a masterpiece. Stanley Cortez’s cinematography imbues the film with a haunting beauty through meticulous use of light and shadow, reflecting German Expressionist influences and creating a distinctive gothic-noir aesthetic. The utilization of miniatures, forced perspectives, and rear projections enhances its surreal quality. Each frame exudes a meticulously crafted atmosphere that amplifies the underlying tension and suspense.

Beyond its technical brilliance, the film serves as an allegorical critique on false prophets, using Mitchum’s character to underscore the perils of manipulative religiosity. It’s a film that grows in impact with each viewing, entrenching itself as an American classic that stands nuanced scrutiny over decades. Its unyielding thematic complexity and visual splendor remain as captivating today as they were controversially bold in 1955.

Kino Lorber's 4K UHD Blu-ray of "The Night of the Hunter" offers a remarkable upgrade for this cinematic classic. The new Dolby Vision transfer presents the film in stunning native 4K, intensifying its haunting visuals and amplifying its allegorical depth. This edition, although framed at 1.85:1, is a visual delight with enhanced clarity and contrast that significantly heightens the viewing experience. Robert Mitchum's iconic portrayal of Harry Powell continues to captivate, showcasing why this film remains not just a top-tier thriller of its time, but one of the greatest movies ever made.

However, when it comes to bonus features, the Kino Lorber release does not quite measure up to Criterion's 2010 Blu-ray set. It's noteworthy that this edition lacks the comprehensive array of extras found in its predecessor, particularly the exceptional "Charles Laughton Directs The Night of the Hunter" documentary that offers invaluable behind-the-scenes footage. Instead, this release opts for a more streamlined selection of supplementary content. While these features are still engaging and worthwhile, collectors who cherish extensive special features might find this aspect lacking.

If you can play 4K Blu-ray discs, you should consider acquiring Kino Lorber's 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack of "The Night of the Hunter." The new 4K makeover prepared for this classic film appears very impressive in native 4K. However, keep in mind that the Blu-ray disc only contains bonus features and does not offer a 1080p presentation of the new 4K transfer. Moreover, these bonus features differ from those included in Criterion's 2010 release. Nonetheless, for its enhanced visual and audio presentation alone, this release comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.