INDY MOVIE REVIEWS

Night Child (1972)

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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.)