Both films today come from 1955 and are hugely influential and both are closely rated on
imdb.com's Top 250 movies list.
The Night of the Hunter
Even someone that's never seen it knows about the love/hate tattoos:
Robert Mitchum is fantastic as a self-styled "preacher" that really masks his true nature of a serial killer behind the words and image of man of God. When he finds out a condemned man in jail has hidden $10k with his family (a soon-to-be widow and two children) he worms his way into the widow's affections and the daughter's as well. Only the son, the one who really carries the burden of the hidden money, resists.
[YOUTUBE="X20XIg38GcE"]Love - Hate: Night of the Hunter[/YOUTUBE]
There are some wonderful scenes in this film: the swaying hair at the bottom of the river, the nighttime dream-like river escape, the silhouette of Mitchum's hatted preacher and his maniacal manner when things go wrong, and the scene of him softly calling to the children at the top of the cellar stairs is now a horror movie staple. I did dislike the score, the horrid acting of the little girl, and the too-happy ending. Scorned upon release, it is now rightly an American classic. You can see the movie for
free on Hulu if you like.
Highly Recommended.
Les Diaboliques
Don't see the remake! See this fantastic French b&w film. The principle of a boy's private school has made a horrible mistake: his fragile wife and mistress (both teachers at the school) have become friends. Never let this happen! Add his cruel nature, and it's only natural they begin to plot his death. Sedating him and then drowning him in a bath tub, they throw the body in the school's dirty pool for someone else to discover. Then the body... well, just rent this one, you won't regret it. Another classic that has spawned countless imitators.
Highly Recommended.