The Night of the Hunter

“

This morning we were married... and now you think I'm going to kiss you, hold you, call you my wife!

”

—Official tagline

The Night of the Hunter is a Southern Gothic/thriller/film noir released in 1955.

In the film, a preacher goes to the home of his cellmate in order to find a wad of cash he hid somewhere. Unbeknownst to the widow of the cellmate, the preacher is actually a serial killer, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the cash. The film was directed by Charles Laughton and stars Robert Mitchum, Shelly Winters, Billy Chapin, and Sally Jane Bruce. It is an adaptation of Davis Grubb's 1953 novel of the same name. It is the first film in the Night of the Hunter series.

Victims

Prior to the film

• 23 Unnamed Women - Throat slit by Harry.
• Corey South - Shot by Ben off-screen, mentioned.
• Ed Smiley - Shot by Ben off-screen, mentioned.
  • Total - 23

During the film

• Unnamed Woman - Throat slit off screen by Harry off-screen, body seen.
• Ben Harper - Sentenced to death and hanged by Bart.
• Willa Harper - Throat slit by Harry.
• Rabbit - Eaten by an owl.
• Reverend Harry Powell - Sentenced to death and hanged by Bart off screen.
  • Total - 7

Deaths

• Total - 30
  • 29 Human
    • 25 Female
    • 4 Male
  • 1 Animal
    • All Rabbits

Kill Counts

1. Reverend Harry Powell - 25 (Deceased)
2. Bart - 2 (Alive)
3. Ben Harper - 2 (Deceased)