The Night of the Hunter story
The Night of the Hunter is a 1955 American thriller film directed by Charles Laughton, and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, and Lillian Gish. The screenplay by James Agee was based on the 1953 novel of the same title by Davis Grubb. The plot focuses on a corrupt minister-turned-serial killer who attempts to charm an unsuspecting widow and steal $10,000 hidden by her executed husband.
18 total · 3 choice · 10 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| be wary of strangers | choice | It seemed the point of the story was to caution that the vilest of people may come in the guise of the good. |
| evil can come in the guise of good | choice | It seemed the point of the story was to caution that the vilest of people may come in the guise of the good. |
| good vs. evil | choice | The reverend pretending to be good showed himself as evil and was contrasted with the exceptionally benign and responsible Rachel Cooper, who defeated him soundly at the end. |
| brother and sister | major | John and Pearl were at the center of the story |
| chastity | major | Reverend Harry refused to make love to his new wife and complained about lasciviousness in general |
| Christianity | major | a self-proclaimed reverend was the main antagonist and kept preaching fanatically |
| good and evil in religion | major | Harry yakked on about all the affronts he perceived to God |
| greed for riches | major | Harry was particular was covetous of the $10,000. |
| husband and wife | major | Willa and Ben indirectly; Willa and Harry |
| keeping secrets | major | the kids struggled to keep the money secret from Harry |