The music used in the opening scene of The Bear season 3, episode 5 “Children” was taken from a classic film noir. Debuting in 2022 on Hulu, The Bear is led by Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, an acclaimed chef who takes over his deceased brother’s sandwich shop in Chicago. The Bear features an exceptional ensemble of Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Oliver Platt, and Abby Elliott. Most notably, The Bear fearlessly tackles challenging subject matters thoughtfully and profoundly.

The Bear season 3 introduces several different forms of tension and pressure after the grand opening of The Bear restaurant, most of them coming from within Carmy himself. The acclaimed third season of The Bear has earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94% following in the footsteps of the celebrated first two seasons. The Bear season 3 features several cameos including newcomers Josh Hartnett and John Cena who are the latest surprising additions to the expanding ensemble cast.

The Bear Season 3, Episode 5’s Opening Music Is From The Night Of The Hunter

The Night of the Hunter follows an unstable preacher searching for stolen loot

The Bear season 3, episode 5 “Children” opens with a brief montage of Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto worrying about the fate of her future child. It was first revealed that Natalie was pregnant towards the end of The Bear season 2 right around the time when she started to take on a more active role in managing the finances of Carmy’s new restaurant. As Natalie prays in church and is up late through the night unable to sleep, the main title song from 1955’s The Night of the Hunter plays in the background.

The Night of the Hunter stars Robert Mitchum as Harry Powell, a self-proclaimed preacher who can apparently talk to God. Harry is forced to serve 30 days in prison after getting caught stealing a car which is where he meets Ben Harper, who’s been sentenced to death for committing murder during a robbery. After Harry gets released, he shows up at Harper’s home and quickly feigns interest in his wife in order to figure out where Ben hid the large sum of money, a secret only known by his two young children.

How The Night Of The Hunter’s Opening Monologue Connects To The Bear Season 3’s Story

Carmy may be leading Sydney astray by committing her to The Bear

The opening monologue of The Night of the Hunter offers a cautionary tale about charlatans. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” With Carmy being known as Bear by his family, there have been several allusions to the figurative bear within him, full of rage, pain, and unresolved conflict.

While Carmy’s dedication and talent throughout The Bear is unquestionable, Sydney begins to reconsider toward the end of The Bear season 3 whether or not she wants to continue working with Carmy because of how blunt and authoritarian he can be. She knows that Carmy is passionate and exceptional, but she begins to wonder whether following Carmy’s lead for the rest of her culinary career will truly make her happy. In this way, Carmy can potentially be seen as a “false prophet” as sorts, especially considering that his restaurant might be shutting down in The Bear season 4.