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Directer:James
Kelley, Andrea Bianchi
Producer:Graham
Harris
Story:Erich
Kröhnke
Writter:
Andrea Bianchi,
Bautista Lacasa, Trevor Preston
Music:Stelvio
Cipriani
Cinematography:Luis
Cuadrado, Harry Waxman
Editor:Nicholas
Wentworth
Running time:89
min
Country:Spain,
UK, Italy,
West Germany
Language:English,
Italian
Genre:Drama,
Thriller,
Horror
Subtitle:none
Starring:Mark
Lester ... Marcus,
Britt
Ekland ... Elise, Hardy Krüger
... Paul, Lilli Palmer ... Dr.
Viorne,
Harry
Andrews ... Headmaster, Conchita
Montes ... Sophie, Colette
Giacobine ... Sarah |
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An wealthy author''s second wife begins to suspect her 12-year old
stepson may have murdered his mother whom mysteriously died in a
bathtub accident.
Storyline
In this stylish and atmospheric psychological thriller reminiscent
of Henry James''s Turn of the Screw, a widowed English writer brings
a young, glamorous new bride to his bleak, isolated home in rural
Spain. She soon becomes obsessed with her 12-year old stepson, who
she learns has just been expelled from school for mysterious
offenses; while the boy enjoys, exploits, and feeds her increasing
paranoia about him. That he is a brilliant and lonely child is
obvious. But is he the victim of a neurotic woman''s overwrought
imagination-- in Shakespeare''s words, the innocent flower, or the
serpent under it?
Night Hair Child (also released under the titles Night Child, Child
of the Night, What the Peeper Saw, Tua Presenza Nuda and Diabólica
Malicia) is a 1971 horror film starring Mark Lester, Britt Ekland,
Hardy Krüger and Lilli Palmer. The film was directed by James Kelley
(who is better known for directing The Beast in the Cellar). The
italian version of the film credits Andrea Bianchi as director,
under the pseudonym Andrew White.
Plot
Marcus is a twelve-year-old schoolboy his mother recently died
leaving it up to his wealthy author Paul to look after him. He takes
a sexual interest in his stepmother Elise. Elise notices his
abnormal behaviour and investigates by visiting his school after
discovering a torn-up letter from his headmaster. Elise is shocked
by her findings. Elise becomes increasingly disturbed and wonders if
Marcus is to blame for his mother''s death. Elise enlists the help of
psychiatrist, Dr Viorne to find answers.
Time Out says
The sight of kids in adult situations is unfailingly embarrassing,
and Night Hair Child (whatever that means) is no exception. In it
Mark Lester plays a 12-year-old voyeur who touches up Britt Ekland,
and later joins her for some purpose or other (even he seems
uncertain) between the sheets. Everyone involved blunders along,
seemingly unaware of the sensitivity necessary to develop this story
of a young newlywed who finds that she is living in the same house
as a pubescent sex maniac, who may also be plotting to murder her.
The casting is crazy, with Ekland hardly the actress for this sort
of thing; and the script meanders all over the place, with a long
psychiatric interview and a dream sequence seemingly interpolated
just for the hell of it, before finally falling to bits. Still, at
least Lester gets his deserts, the little brat. (Andrea Bianchi is
credited as director on foreign language versions.)
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