Book Review: "The Night of the Hunter" by Davis Grubb

I am not going to lie to you, when I was a lot younger than I am now, the film adaptation of this book used to frighten me because it was so intense. It felt so uncomfortable to watch and has since become one of those films I always recommend to someone who is looking for a scary film that isn't necessarily horror. You wouldn't believe how close the film is to the book because it is pretty damn close if you ask me. Written in a style which echoes the dark pulp fiction of the Great Depression, Davis Grubb's story of the 'Preacher' Henry Powell makes not only for great and intense reading, but is also one of the best books I have read all year. It just feels legendary.

The book opens with our two child protagonists: John and his little sister, Pearl. Their mother, Willa is constantly telling Pearl not to sing a nursery rhyme about the hangman and thus, she sings it in secret. Taking pity on Willa, a couple offer her a job and she takes it, leaving her children alone but Willa has something else she's got on her mind. Her husband was arrested for a robbery, some people were killed and ten thousand dollars went missing. Not knowing where he'd hidden it, he isn't telling anyone though someone out there knows the truth. As his execution date draws near, more people pester the family about the money but Willa is only concerned with her children. The writer pens this introduction in a way that definitely makes us feel for the young woman in the midst of this horror, but also for the children who may now grow up without a father. As the story evolves therefore, we start to see who is more concerned about the money and who is more concerned about the kids and their safety. This will help the reader split the bad people from the good - especially given their intentions later on in the text.

In prison, the father (Ben) is met with a preacher and the two talk about why they are there. The preacher becomes very demanding, telling Ben to talk to him about where the money is in order to 'cleanse his soul' before he gets executed. Of course, it isn't anything to do with that at all and Ben is more than aware, so doesn't tell the preacher anything. When Ben hangs, the preacher goes free from jail some time soon and of course, he wants to find that money. With Willa and the children separated a lot, this could be an easy take for him that's if the children were not so strong willed. I would say that the main feeling I got from this book that was different to the movie is that the preacher in the book is a lot more volatile and loud than the one in the film. Which do I prefer? I think the one in the film definitely fit that atmosphere more, but the book version fits this one more. They are both very good in their own way and both fit the different mediums that they portray the character in. If I were to go off personal preference however I would say that the film one is a bit more believable and manipulative - he seems more like a sociopath. Again, the book one is a bit more unstable - but it works when you're trying to tell such a heavy atmospheric story in this way.

I have to say my favourite scene in the whole book was the one where the preacher and Ben are sitting in the jail cell and talking to each other and the preacher simply loses his marbles because Ben won't tell him where the money is. It's one of those scenes where you see under the strange psychotic nature of the preacher who you would expect to be well put together and quiet. It gives us a glimpse of what is to come and what kind of person he will become in the chapter entitled 'The River'.

As you can probably tell, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so immersive and well-written. If you loved the movie, you're going to very much enjoy this read.

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