<p><strong>What If I Don’t Like It? – Season Two Finale: The Night of the Hunter (1955)</strong></p><p>For the season two finale, I’m joined by film critic Carl Gustafson (&quot;@Carlthefilmcritic&quot;) to talk about <em>The Night of the Hunter</em> (1955), a classic horror film often called one of the greatest and most influential movies ever made. Why do filmmakers love it? Why did it fail on release? And why can it feel intimidating to first-time viewers?</p><p>This episode is perfect for anyone who has avoided this classic because it feels lofty or intimidating. Carl and I break down the film’s direction by Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum’s iconic performance, its expressionist cinematography, and why it remains a genuinely tense, emotional, and influential movie.</p><p>Whether you’re a horror fan, a classic film lover, or just curious about this famous movie, this conversation is a friendly guide to <em>The Night of the Hunter</em>.</p><p><strong>Where You Can Find Us</strong></p><p><strong>Kt Baldassaro (@MovieRuntime)</strong> TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@movieruntime Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movieruntime YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MovieRuntime</p><p><strong>Carl Gustafson (@Carlthefilmcritic)</strong> TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@carlthefilmcritic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlthefilmcritic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarlTheCritic</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction to <em>The Night of the Hunter</em> and Episode Overview</p><p>11:15 Film Reviews, TikTok, and How We Talk About Movies</p><p>16:58 First Movie Memories, Comfort Films, and Horror Origins</p><p>22:31 The American Dream and Classic Hollywood Themes</p><p>27:32 <em>The Night of the Hunter</em> Plot Overview and First Reactions</p><p>31:57 Film Noir, Expressionism, and Cinematic Style</p><p>36:00 Cinematography, Shadows, and Visual Storytelling</p><p>39:40 Influence on Modern Horror and Filmmakers</p><p>42:04 Women in <em>The Night of the Hunter</em>: Sexuality and Power</p><p>45:50 Religion, Good vs Evil, and Moral Fear</p><p>48:20 Iconic Scenes and Lasting Imagery</p><p>52:37 Pacing, Structure, and Narrative Choices</p><p>56:07 Character Development and Child Protagonists</p><p>01:00:49 Robert Mitchum’s Performance as a Horror Villain</p><p>01:04:42 Film Score, Sound Design, and Atmosphere</p><p>01:11:22 Why <em>The Night of the Hunter</em> Still Matters</p><p>01:18:33 Corrections, Context, and Extended Discussion</p><p>01:19:34 True Story Influences and Charles Laughton’s Direction</p><p>01:21:02 Release Problems, Critical Reception, and Reevaluation</p><p>01:27:14 Final Thoughts, Legacy, and Season Wrap-Up</p><p><br><strong>Movies Referenced in This Episode</strong></p><p>Listed by year of release</p><ul><li><p>The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)</p></li><li><p>Nosferatu (1922)</p></li><li><p>Frankenstein (1931)</p></li><li><p>The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)</p></li><li><p>Dumbo (1941)</p></li><li><p>The Night of the Hunter (1955)</p></li><li><p>Marty (1955)</p></li><li><p>Lady and the Tramp (1955)</p></li><li><p>East of Eden (1955)</p></li><li><p>Cape Fear (1962)</p></li><li><p>My Fair Lady (1964)</p></li><li><p>Onibaba (1964)</p></li><li><p>Eraserhead (1977)</p></li><li><p>Suspiria (1977)</p></li><li><p>The Fox and the Hound (1981)</p></li><li><p>Das Boot (1981)</p></li><li><p>Blue Velvet (1986)</p></li><li><p>Do the Right Thing (1989)</p></li><li><p>Edward Scissorhands (1990)</p></li><li><p>Perfect Blue (1997)</p></li><li><p>The Big Lebowski (1998)</p></li><li><p>Requiem for a Dream (2000)</p></li><li><p>No Country for Old Men (2007)</p></li><li><p>Coraline (2009)</p></li><li><p>Black Swan (2010)</p></li><li><p>The Shape of Water (2017)</p></li><li><p>Suspiria (2018)</p></li><li><p>Midsommar (2019)</p></li><li><p>Us (2019)</p></li><li><p>Bo Is Afraid (2023)</p><p>Lisa Frankenstein (2024)</p></li></ul>