Amazon Prime Is Hiding These 3 Masterpieces — Stream Them Tonight
Finding good films on Amazon Prime Video can be tricky because the browsing experience is often difficult. Still, several notable movies are currently available on the service. Below are three titles you can find and watch right now, with quick facts and brief, objective summaries.
The Night of the Hunter
Director: Charles Laughton. Lead actor: Robert Mitchum. Based on: the novel by Davis Grubb. The Night of the Hunter is a black-and-white 1955 crime thriller that follows two children who flee a murderous preacher after he seeks hidden money in their home. The film is set in the American backwoods and frames the story through the children’s perspective.
Charles Laughton is credited with directing the film; it is his only feature as director. Robert Mitchum plays Harry Powell, a preacher who courts the children’s mother while pursuing $10,000 he believes is hidden in the house. The plot leads the children to attempt escape across rural landscapes.
Several filmmakers and critics have discussed the film. For example, an essay referencing Martin Scorsese appears in this Slate piece, and Guillermo del Toro wrote about the film for The Criterion Collection. Spike Lee has also spoken about the film on video:
Furthermore, the Coen brothers’ interest in the movie is discussed in an essay at RogerEbert.com.
Grizzly Man
Director: Werner Herzog. Subject: Timothy Treadwell. Release year: 2005. Herzog’s Grizzly Man is a documentary assembled from recovered footage and interviews about Timothy Treadwell, who spent extended periods in Katmai National Park, Alaska, living among brown bears.
Treadwell recorded his own activities with video gear. In 2003, Treadwell and his girlfriend were killed by a brown bear in Katmai National Park. The incident is reported as the first known bear-related human fatality in that park. Herzog’s documentary presents Treadwell’s footage alongside interviews and Herzog’s commentary, and it explores Treadwell’s relationship with the bears and his perspectives on conservation and personal risk.
Snack Shack
Writer-director: Adam Carter Rehmeier. Stars: Gabriel LaBelle and Conor Sherry. Setting: Summer of 1991. Snack Shack is a coming-of-age comedy-drama that follows two teenage friends who become the accidental operators of their neighborhood pool’s snack shack and attempt to turn it into a money-making venture.
Gabriel LaBelle is credited for previously appearing in The Fabelmans, and Conor Sherry is credited for appearing in Happy Gilmore 2. The film depicts the pair engaging in schemes and facing personal challenges during one summer, with scenes focused on their interactions, choices, and the consequences that follow.
