The Night Hair Child

Mark Lester - Marcus
Britt Ekland - Elise
Hardy Krüger - Paul
Lilli Palmer - Dr. Viorne
Harry Andrews - Headmaster
Conchita Montes - Sophie
Colette Giacobine - Sarah

Muddled and inept sexploitation psychodrama that makes poor use of an excellent cast that performs erratically to say the least. The 14-year-old angelic star of Oliver! (1968), Mark Lester, takes the lead role and it’s intriguing to observe him in a mature drama but his opposite number Britt Ekland is woefully miscast in a role demanding genuine acting flair.

Set in Spain, psychotic 12 year-old Marcus (Mark Lester), the son of a wealthy author Paul (Hardy Kruger) develops an instant sexual fascination for his attractive stepmother Elise (Britt Ekland) after returning home early from school. Elise first becomes aware of Marcus’ abnormal behaviour when he gropes her in the bathroom and after discovering a torn up school letter from Marcus’ headmaster (Harry Andrews) she visits his school and is enlightened to more of the boy’s horrifying deeds.

Marcus’ weak-willed father Paul dismisses all his wife’s concerns and attributes them to the actions of a boy traumatised by the loss of his mother. But Elise starts to question whether she died accidentally whilst bathing or was murdered. Elise fears that she might be next and goes to psychiatrist Dr. Viorne (Lilli Palmer) with her concerns.