The Night of the Hunter (1955)

In the dark pall of the Great Depression, the desperate act of a father spirals into a sinister tale of greed, manipulation, and terror. Ben Harper, in his attempt to rob a bank of $10,000, ends up killing two individuals, a deed that sets the ominous wheels in motion. Before his capture, he entrusts his children, the wise-beyond-his-years John and the innocent Pearl, with the secret of his ill-gotten wealth, hidden within the confines of Pearl's cherished doll. Ben's fate is sealed by the law and while awaiting his death sentence, he shares his cell with the seemingly pious Harry Powell. A wolf in sheep's clothing, Powell is a predatory con artist and murderer, masquerading as a man of God. His specialty lies in exploiting the vulnerabilities of lonely, wealthy widows, snaring them in a web of deceit before dispatching them to meet their maker. His eyes now set on the hidden $10,000, Powell vainly tries to extract the secret from Ben, only to be left in the dark. Upon Ben's execution, the cunning Powell turns his attention towards Willa, Ben's widow. Willa, a deeply religious woman burdened with guilt, becomes an easy target for Powell's manipulative charm. As he insinuates himself into her life, presenting himself as a preacher who offered solace to Ben in his final hours, he realizes that the children hold the key to his fortune. John, wary of the stranger, tries to protect the secret, despite Pearl's growing trust in their new stepfather. As the stakes rise and Powell's thinly veiled threats escalate, John and Pearl find themselves in dire need of an ally, someone who can see through Powell's deceptive façade. In a world where wolves come dressed as shepherds, the children must navigate treacherous waters to keep their promise to their late father. As the night of the hunter descends, it becomes a chilling question of survival, as Powell's deranged quest for redemption and riches threatens to engulf everyone in its path.

The Night of the Hunter is a crime movie featuring Robert Mitchum and directed by Charles Laughton.

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