Watch The Night Visitor

The Night Visitor, released in 1971 and directed by László Benedek, is a gripping thriller that stars some of the most talented actors of their time, including Max von Sydow, Trevor Howard, and Liv Ullmann. The movie revolves around Salem, a newspaper editor who has been wrongly imprisoned for the murder of a young woman. After spending several years behind bars, Salem manages to escape from prison and reappears in the life of his sister, Ester, who lives on a remote farm with her husband and their daughter.

Ester is shocked to see her brother after so many years, but she welcomes him with open arms and tries to learn more about his time in prison. However, as Salem starts to reveal more and more about his past, Ester realizes that her brother's mind has been irreversibly damaged by his years in confinement.

Meanwhile, a police inspector named Kronberg is determined to track down Salem and bring him back to prison. Kronberg believes that Salem is guilty of the murder of the young woman and is convinced that he will eventually slip up and reveal his true nature.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is more to the murder than meets the eye. The night visitor of the title refers to someone who is seen sneaking around the farm at night, and it soon becomes apparent that this person has connections to Salem and his past.

The tension in the movie builds steadily as we watch Kronberg and his team try to track down Salem, and as we see Salem's unpredictable behavior start to impact those around him. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and the movie keeps you guessing until the very end.

One of the standout performances in the movie comes from Max von Sydow, who imbues Salem with a sense of menace and madness that keeps the audience on edge. Trevor Howard is also excellent as Kronberg, and Liv Ullmann delivers a nuanced performance as Ester, torn between her loyalty to her brother and her fear of what he might be capable of.

In addition to the strong acting, The Night Visitor is notable for its moody, atmospheric cinematography. The setting of the remote farm and surrounding countryside creates a sense of isolation and vulnerability, and the use of shadows and darkness adds to the overall feeling of unease.

Overall, The Night Visitor is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The strong performances from the cast, combined with the moody visuals and tense plot, make it a must-see for fans of the genre.

The Night Visitor is a 1971 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.