The Night of the Hunter

The Night of the Hunter is coming to the Worthing Connaught Theatre & Studio on Monday 16 November, screened by the Worthing Film Club. It's a 1955 Southern Gothic that's spent decades as a cult favourite, and seeing it on a big screen is the only way it really works.

The film follows a fraudulent preacher who marries a widow for her money and then turns his sights on her two children, who know where she's hidden the cash. It's a strange, stark piece of work, and it's the only feature Charles Laughton ever directed, which is part of why it feels so singular. The imagery is almost expressionist, with high-contrast lighting and distorted angles that make the whole thing feel like a nightmare, and it's the kind of film that's far more effective in a cinema than on a laptop screen.

Worthing Film Club is the outfit behind it. They bring iconic classics, cult hits and new releases from around the world to the big screen here in West Sussex, and this is one of their regular monthly screenings. If you're a member, entry is free, and the membership comes with a few other things: you can borrow classics from their DVD library and you get free entry to their annual Christmas event, plus discounts at special screenings. The annual membership is £40, there's a seasonal one for £15, and a U21/student rate of £30.

So, The Night of the Hunter at the Connaught Theatre & Studio on Monday 16 November. If you've never seen it, it's a great place to start; if you have, it's a good excuse to see it again in a room full of people. Entry is free for club members, with annual membership at £40, seasonal at £15 and U21/student at £30.