Based on a novel by Davis Grubb and directed by Yorkshire born actor and director Charles Laughton, who appeared in motion pictures such as Spartacus, Captain Kidd and The Paradine Case, The Night of the Hunter is a classic film that both represents its era yet also manages to be ahead of its time in many ways.
Starring the legendary Robert Mitchum in the iconic role of Harry Powell and Shelley Winters as Willa Harper, the film deals with death, religion, family, greed and abuse in ways that are terrifying yet somewhat tame by today’s standard. Mitchum offers up a character that personifies greed and deception, a preacher with darkness behind his gaze yet an ability to manipulate those around him.
Monday, 23 June 2014
The Night of the Hunter - Will's Review
There is a certain something about older films, which I enjoy, but don't somehow quite have the vocabulary to explain. Don't get me wrong; I know a shit ton of words, but there's something about old films that, however hard I try to explain what I like about them, it ends up sounding bad.
There's a certain pacing to them, which I want to describe as "slow", but somehow it manages (when done well) not to be a bad thing. The truth is that most entertainment changes over the years, adopting new conventions, and it's difficult for many people to appreciate the style of bygone storytelling techniques; even harder to explain them.
Ringu (Ring) - Will's review
Ringu was many westerners (including my own) introduction to the world of J-Horror; already gaining popularity before the remake, it became a must-see after. Due to it's success both in Japan and abroad, Ringu has become one of Japan's most influential movies.
The story (taken form Kujo Suzuki's novel of the same name, but switching the gender of the lead character) centres around a journalist researching a cursed videotape; anyone who watches it in exactly 7 days.
Saturday, 21 June 2014
The Night of the Hunter - Lisa's Review
So a 1955 movie set in the 1930s... wonderful. I'm far from a fan of most older movies. There are a few wonderful exceptions. Is this movie amongst them? In a word - no.
The movie follows a nasty, misogynistic preacher, Rev Harry Powell (played by Robert Mitchum) who just happened to be a murderer on the side. He has managed to live his life so far completely unhindered as his ill deeds had never been discovered. He was adored by women and revered by men for his god fearing sermons. He had a real talent of getting people 'on side' and hiding his repugnant, repellent personality.
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Week 161 - The Night of the Hunter (1955)
Repulsion - Will's Review
Carol is a nervous young Belgian woman, who lives with her sister in London. When her sister goes on holiday with the married man she is having an affair with, NAME is unable to cope with being left alone, and slowly descends into a mental breakdown.
Polanski's first English-language feature already has his trademarks in place; a mundane setting, maybe-real-maybe-dream sequences, and some absolutely gorgeous looking shots.
Sadly though, and I appreciate that this isn't the popular opinion, I often find his work dull; this is no exception.
Once again, I find myself looking at a critically successful movie (this one scores a staggering 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and being bored to tears.
Yes, I can see that the film-making is technically excellent (especially in the second half) but I don't expect great movies (and this is supposed to be one of the 100 best horrors remember) to be merely proficient; I expect them to be entertaining.
If you watch a film to dissect it and be impressed; go for it! You'll love this one. But if, like me, you expect your entertainment to be entertaining, not just beautiful, give this one a wide birth.
Friday, 13 June 2014
Ringu (Ring) - Lisa's Review
*** CONTAINS SPOILERS ***
This weeks movie leaves me with no confusion or confliction when writing the review. This movie was my introduction to the wonderful world of Japanese horror. A colleague told me about the movie as he knew I liked my horror. He lent me a copy and so it began!
We start the movie with talk of an urban legend of sorts surrounding a strange movie on a VHS tape. Apparently anyone who watches the movie is supposed to die within 7 days. Of course anyone who hears the story does the usual poo-pooing and insists on watching it. This is the case for 4 teenage girls. Sadly they find out there is more than an element of truth to this legend.
The movie gets properly underway with the introduction of Reiko Asakawa, a young reporter who is investigating the stories about the creepy video. She discovers there have been unexplained deaths of several teenage girls, who it is claimed watched the video.
I won't go into any further detail about the rest of the story, but what this movie achieves (and in fact is true of most Japanese movies) is managing to scare the bejezus out of you with no need for loads of effects and obviousness. The movie manages to hold a disturbing, creepy air for the duration. I can honestly say I was hooked and genuinely scared from 5 minutes in. This is from someone who had, before the first time I watched Ringu, never watched a Japanese movie. The movie also included a scene that honestly had me almost shitting my pants! Seriously frightening!
Following watching this movie, I watched any Japanese horrors I could get my hands on and discovered a wealth of wonderful new movies. There are a lot of American remakes of these movies, including this one. I would strongly recommend you watched the Japanese version, rather than the remade American version. They just don't manage to get under your skin like the originals.
If you didn't already guess, I thoroughly recommend this movie if you haven't seen it. Even if you've seen the American remake, watch the original, it's a world apart. Sticking a big, fat 'Recommended' on this one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)