A widowed writer (Hardy Kruger) brings his young, glamorous new bride, Elise (Britt Ekland) to his bleak, isolated home in rural Spain.
She soon becomes obsessed with her 12-year-old stepson, Marcus (Mark Lester of Oliver! fame), who she learns has just been expelled from school for mysterious offences.
It’s clear from the outset that Marcus lusts after his stepmother. He fondles her breasts, ogles her as she strips, and plays peeping tom when she and his father make love.
In his spare time, he draws pornographic pictures and tortures animals.
He is obviously a brilliant and lonely child, but he also enjoys, exploits, and feeds her increasing paranoia about him as Elise begins to suspect that he may have murdered his mother, who mysteriously died in a bathtub accident.
As a result of the boy’s manipulations, Paul becomes convinced that Elise is persecuting his son and sends her to a psychiatrist. Elise is so demoralised that she tries to kill Marcus and is taken to a mental hospital, where she fantasies over her relationship with Paul and Marcus.
It is when she is released, apparently cured, that events begin to take an even more sinister turn.
This English/Italian co-production was originally titled Diabólica Malicia and released in some markets as Night Hair Child.
Most critics slammed the film on release for its distasteful theme, but that did nothing but good for the box office returns.
Marcus
Mark Lester Elise
Britt Ekland Paul
Hardy Krüger Dr Viorne
Lilli Palmer Headmaster
Harry Andrews Sophie
Conchita Montes Sarah
Collette Jack
Director
James Kelley
Andrea Bianchi
Video
Related Posts
Wild In The Streets (1968) This astounding, grunge-fuelled political satire from American International Pictures is the story of shrewd and sexy millionaire rock star Max…
Innocent Bystanders (1972) Featuring Stanely Baker’s last big-screen role, Innocent Bystanders looks and feels like a hard-boiled low-rent James Bond. Proof that Baker…
Amazing Mr Blunden, The (1972) Director Lionel Jeffries adapted this follow-up to The Railway Children (1970) from an Antonia Barber novel entitled The Ghosts. A…
What's New, Pussycat? (1965) Troubled Paris fashion magazine editor Michael James (Peter O'Toole) is obsessed with women, whom he calls "pussycats" and keeps reiterating…
Cowboys, The (1972) John Wayne plays Will Andersen, a 60-year-old cowboy who laments the passing of the "old" west when a man's handshake…
Sweet Kill (The Arousers) (1972) Former 50's teen idol Tab Hunter plays Eddie Collins, a handsome milk-drinking highschool gym teacher living at a beach house…
Wicker Man, The (1973) Edward Woodward plays Sergeant Howie, sent to the remote island of Summerisle off the coast of Scotland to investigate an…
Home for the Holidays (1972) This made-for-TV movie is set at Christmas time with four sisters - Christine (Sally Field), Jo (Jill Haworth), Freddie (Jessica…
It’s clear from the outset that Marcus lusts after his stepmother. He fondles her breasts, ogles her as she strips, and plays peeping tom when she and his father make love.
