The Night of the Hunted

The Night of the Hunted

Year: 1980

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: French

Director: Jean Rollin

HorrorThrillerHorror

After being whisked away to an eerie, secluded clinic, she discovers that its patients are afflicted with a baffling condition that causes their memories and sense of identity to unravel, a phenomenon traced back to a bizarre environmental accident that has left their minds in disarray.

The Night of the Hunted (1980) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Night of the Hunted (1980) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In an isolated, rain‑soaked clinic perched on the edge of a mist‑cloaked forest, patients drift through corridors like ghosts, their sense of self slipping away with each fleeting moment. The facility’s stark white walls and the soft hum of outdated medical equipment create an atmosphere that feels both clinical and otherworldly, as if the building itself holds its breath, waiting for something to be remembered. A mysterious environmental accident lingers in whispers, hinted at as the source of a strange condition that unravels memory and identity, leaving those inside caught in a perpetual twilight of forgetting.

Élisabeth, a frightened young woman thrust into this unsettling world, awakens with a fragmented awareness that refuses to stay anchored. Her bewilderment is matched by a desperate need to cling to any fragment of who she was, while the clinic’s routine treatments and hushed conversations hint at an unseen urgency to understand the phenomenon. As she navigates the sterile halls, the quiet tension between hope and dread colors every interaction, making the environment feel like a living puzzle.

When Robert, a compassionate stranger with a gentle intensity, crosses her path, a tentative bond forms amid the surrounding uncertainty. His presence offers a fleeting sense of normalcy, urging her to hold onto faces and sensations that might otherwise dissolve. Their dynamic is one of quiet support, each trying to illuminate the other’s fading world without fully grasping the depth of the mystery that surrounds them.

Behind the scenes, Dr. Francis oversees the clinic’s efforts, balancing clinical detachment with an underlying empathy for those whose memories are disintegrating. The staff’s diligent but uneasy attempts to stem the loss of identity add layers of melancholy and intrigue, suggesting that the answers lie not only in medicine but perhaps in the very air that surrounds the isolated sanctuary. The film lingers on this fragile interplay of memory, environment, and human connection, inviting viewers to sense the unease that comes when the past refuses to stay rooted.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 17:46

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with institutional horror like The Night of the Hunted

Stories where oppressive settings trap characters in a battle for their sanity.If the oppressive clinic in The Night of the Hunted captivated you, explore more movies like it. These films feature characters trapped in sinister institutions, battling medical horrors and psychological manipulation for survival. Find similar thrillers and horror stories about escape from institutional abuse.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives typically follow a protagonist who is either a patient or an investigator entering a seemingly benevolent institution, only to uncover its horrifying true purpose. The plot revolves around attempts to escape and expose the corruption, often escalating to a violent or desperate climax where the system's power is fully revealed.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a malevolent institutional setting as the core source of horror. They create a potent mix of psychological tension and physical peril, emphasizing themes of control, dehumanization, and the fragility of the self when pitted against an uncaring system.

Movies about memory loss and identity crisis like The Night of the Hunted

Films where the terror comes from the loss of self and memory.If you were fascinated by the memory-eroding horror in The Night of the Hunted, you'll find similar movies here. These stories explore psychological trauma, identity crisis, and the existential dread of forgetting who you are. Discover films like The Night of the Hunted that question the nature of reality and self.

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Narrative Summary

The story arc follows a character's progressive mental disintegration, often triggered by a trauma or a bizarre phenomenon. The narrative is a slow descent into confusion and paranoia, as the protagonist struggles to hold onto fleeting memories and a stable sense of identity, frequently culminating in a bleak or ambiguous resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their exploration of a profound psychological theme: the horror of losing one's mind and identity. They share a dreamlike, surreal atmosphere and a heavy emotional weight, focusing on internal conflict and existential dread rather than external monsters.

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The Night of the Hunted Summary

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The Night of the Hunted Summary

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The Night of the Hunted Timeline

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Night of the Hunted

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