Film buffs, get set for an evening of cinematic discussion on TCM‘s Two for One. Airing at 8 PM ET/PT, this episode brings director Joe Dante to the table, pairing two darker, cult-favorite films: the 1955 thriller The Night of the Hunter and the 1965 drama The Fool Killer.
The core idea of Two for One is to have celebrated filmmakers pick two movies and explain why they matter, and Dante is certainly a strong choice for this. It is always interesting to hear a director’s take on films that might have shaped their own work, or simply stuck with them over the years.
The Night of the Hunter, directed by Charles Laughton, stars Robert Mitchum as Preacher Harry Powell, a serial killer who hunts two children for stolen cash. Its unsettling mood and stark black-and-white cinematography set it apart. Then there’s The Fool Killer, featuring Anthony Perkins, which follows a 12-year-old boy in the post-Civil War South alongside a philosophical axe murderer. It sounds like a double feature designed to make you think, and perhaps squirm a little.
Dante’s choices here are worth a watch, especially for anyone keen on understanding how different filmmakers connect with cinematic history. The discussion led by Ben Mankiewicz is set to cover the cultural weight of these films, their influence on later works, and perhaps some behind-the-scenes stories, along with Dante’s own reflections on why these movies resonate with him.
Two for One airs Saturday, July 5, at 8 PM ET/PT on TCM.
