Night Hair Child (1972, Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, Hardy Kruger, Harry Andrews, Lilli Palmer) – Classic Movie Review 11,797

Director James Kelley’s 1972 horror thriller film Night Hair Child [What the Peeper Saw] [Diabólica Malicia] stars Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, Hardy Kruger, Harry Andrews, and Lilli Palmer.

Stepmother Elise (Ekland)’s sweet-seeming 12-year-old schoolboy stepson Marcus (Lester) takes a sexual interest in her and makes go-to-bed suggestions, and pretends that his wealthy father Paul (Kruger) has bumped off his mother, who has recently died. Elise seeks the help of psychiatrist Dr Viorne (Palmer).

Night Hair Child is a bad taste chiller, with an offensive use of a child, and a cast that deserves better.

The cast are Mark Lester as Marcus, Britt Ekland as Elise, Hardy Krüger as Paul, Lilli Palmer as Dr Viorne, Harry Andrews as Headmaster, Conchita Montes as Sophie, Collette Jack as Sarah, Ricardo Palacios, Emilio Rodriguez, and Ricardo Valle.

The film received minor cuts on its initial UK cinema release but the BBFC withdrew the film and made extensive cuts in 1978 after the introduction of the Protection of Children Act.

Andrea Bianchi [Andrew White] is credited as co-director in the Italian version Diabólica Malicia.

Night Hair Child is based on an original screenplay by Trevor Preston. Allegedly, producer Harry Alan Towers bought Andrea Bianchi in to adapt the screenplay to add exploitative scenes.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,797

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