scene missing the night of the hunter

In this haunting episode of Scene Missing, we dive deep into Charles Laughton's singular directorial masterpiece, The Night of the Hunter (1955). From its expressionist visual style to Robert Mitchum’s chilling performance as the murderous preacher Harry Powell, we break down what makes this Southern Gothic thriller a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience.We explore the film’s dreamlike atmosphere, the fairy tale overtones, and how it slipped through the cracks in its time — only to be recognized decades later as one of the most influential American films ever made. Join us as we unpack its themes of good vs. evil, childhood innocence, and religious hypocrisy, all framed by some of the most striking black-and-white cinematography ever put on screen.