The Night of the Hunter Blu-ray Review

Criterion's presentation of Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter" on Blu-ray is a remarkable upgrade, solidifying its status as an essential release for film enthusiasts. From start to finish, the film’s striking high-definition transfer, encoded in 1080p with MPEG-4 AVC, excels in all major areas of assessment. Scanned in 2K from the original 35mm camera negative using a Scanity film scanner, the meticulous restoration process involved key technologies such as MTI's DRS system, Pixel Farm's PFClean system, and Digital Vision's DVNR system to remove numerous imperfections like dirt, scratches, and flicker. The results are evident, with the picture showcasing incredible detail, clarity, and color reproduction while maintaining an authentic cinematic grain.

Stanley Cortez's iconic cinematography, blending silent era melodrama with German expressionism, looks breathtaking. The high-definition transfer preserves the spellbinding imagery, with splendid brightness and ink-rich blacks that add profound depth. Contrast levels are impressively precise, presenting striking whites without blooming. While there are minor instances of posterization, these are insignificant in comparison to the overall visual fidelity. Viewers will notice a perceptible depth of field and an appreciable cinematic quality thanks to a thin veil of film grain. This professional restoration also ensures there are no major issues with edge-enhancement, macroblocking, or compression artifacts.

Despite the film's age-related softness and a few minor dips in resolution levels, the Blu-ray presentation delivers exceptional definition and clarity. Fine details like set design textures, clothing intricacies, and foliage are distinctly visible throughout. The film’s heavy use of shadows does not compromise detail visibility, supporting the narrative's atmospheric intensity. Overall, Criterion’s Blu-ray release of "The Night of the Hunter" offers a visual experience that significantly enhances this classic film’s haunting beauty.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release of "The Night of the Hunter" comes equipped with an English LPCM 1.0 audio track that has undergone extensive restoration. The monaural soundtrack, originally sourced from the 2001 UCLA Film & Television Archive restoration, supervised by Robert Gitt and John Polito, offers a meticulously crafted auditory experience. This restoration utilized a combination of a 35mm composite master positive, a soundtrack negative, and multiple 35mm magnetic film rolls housing edited dialogue, all digitized at 96 kHz 24-bit for superior sound fidelity. Criterion further enhanced the audio using Pro Tools HD. These efforts manifest in an audio track that conveys remarkable depth and stability, surpassing previous releases.

The uncompressed PCM mono track excellently complements the film’s visual storytelling, offering a crisp and color-rich sound profile that enhances both dialogue and atmospheric effects. Dialogue reproduction is particularly noteworthy, delivering clean, stable, and intelligible tonal inflections that deepen emotional engagement. The one-channel setup surprisingly achieves a wide dynamic range with superb clarity and acoustics, despite being centered in mono. Subtle atmospheric cues are distinctly audible throughout the film, contributing to an appreciable sense of space and presence. Absent of pops, cracks, hissing, or dropouts, this audio presentation is both striking and immersive, ensuring fans of this classic crime thriller will be thoroughly impressed.

The Blu-ray extras for "The Night of the Hunter" provide an extensive and enlightening dive into the film’s production and legacy, mirroring Criterion’s DVD release but introducing several features to home video for the first time. The highlight is the documentary "Charles Laughton Directs The Night of the Hunter," comprising over two and a half hours of outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage, offering unparalleled insights into Laughton’s directorial style and methodologies. Supplementary materials, including interviews with key crew members and in-depth audio commentary, further enhance comprehension of the film’s intricate artistic and historical contexts. Essential for any cinephile, these thoughtfully curated extras ensure a rich exploration of this cinematic gem.

Extras included in this disc:

• The Making of The Night of the Hunter: In-depth documentary exploring the film's production history.
• Simon Callow on Charles Laughton: Insightful interview with the author of "Charles Laughton: A Difficult Actor."
• Moving Pictures: 1995 documentary featuring interviews with key cast and crew.
• The Ed Sullivan Show: 1955 excerpt with an unseen performance.
• Stanley Cortez: 1984 interview with the director of photography.
• Davis Grubb Sketches: Collection of drawings used for inspiration.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original film preview.
• Commentary: Informative discussions by noted critics and crew.
• Introduction: Conversation on film restoration by Robert Gitt and Leonard Maltin.
• Charles Laughton Directs The Night of the Hunter: Comprehensive documentary on the direction and production.

Charles Laughton's "The Night of the Hunter" (1955) stands as a singular achievement in film history, combining gothic and noir elements into a visually arresting and psychologically intense horror story. Adapted from Davis Grubb's novel, this tale of greed, religion, and innocence lost is centered on the menacing figure of Harry Powell, portrayed masterfully by Robert Mitchum. The plot focuses on Powell, a self-proclaimed preacher and serial killer, who marries a widow to get his hands on hidden money known only to her children. The film navigates from tension-filled dialogue to heart-pounding chases, culminating in a face-off with a feisty protector of the innocent, played by Lillian Gish with remarkable strength and empathy.

Laughton’s directorial techniques are both ambitious and innovative. His use of deep shadows and stark lighting, crafted by cinematographer Stanley Cortez, parallels German Expressionist cinema and enhances the narrative's psychological undercurrents. Notable scenes include the visually poetic downriver boat sequence, laden with symbolic imagery of innocence and vulnerability. Mitchum’s performance is chillingly effective, his character's tattooed knuckles—reading "LOVE" and "HATE"—serving as a visual shorthand for the movie's core theme: the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Though initially unappreciated, "The Night of the Hunter" has been rediscovered as a cinematic masterpiece. Its bold exploration of dark themes, combined with breathtaking cinematography and a compelling narrative, makes it an influential gem revered by modern filmmakers like Spike Lee and the Coen brothers. Criterion's Blu-ray release further elevates its status by providing an array of supplemental features, offering deeper insight into Laughton’s only directorial venture, a film that intriguingly marries disturbing realism with an artistically haunting style.

The Criterion Collection's Blu-ray release of "The Night of the Hunter" is nothing short of extraordinary. As the sole directorial endeavor by esteemed actor Charles Laughton, this film is an undeniable cornerstone of cinematic artistry. The new high-definition transfer offers a visually impeccable presentation that captures the haunting beauty of Stanley Cortez's cinematography with remarkable clarity and contrast. The audio restoration is equally impressive, preserving the eerie and atmospheric soundscape that complements the film's narrative and visual style.

In addition to its superb technical presentation, the two-disc set is enriched with a wealth of supplemental materials. Among these, Robert Gitt's documentary, which explores the making of "The Night of the Hunter," is particularly noteworthy. The inclusion of this previously unavailable documentary adds immense value, providing viewers with deep insights into the film's production, Laughton's directorial approach, and the thematic nuances that make this film a visual and narrative tour de force. Other bonus features include critical essays and interviews that contextualize the film within its historical and cinematic framework.

I think it is fair to say that the wait was well worth it. Indeed, The Night of the Hunter looks spectacular on Blu-ray, and the supplemental features Criterion have provided are simply outstanding. This is a true American classic, folks, which has received the type of treatment it rightfully deserves. A special thanks to UCLA Film & Television Archive for making this release possible. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.