What the Peeper Saw (also known as Night Hair Child and Diabolical Malice) is a 1972 thriller about a wealthy author’s second wife who begins to suspect her 12-year-old stepson is responsible for her mother’s death. Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, and Hardy Kruger star in this controversial film.
The DVD transfer is relatively poor, with many scenes showing speckles and compression artifacts. However, the movie is still worth watching for its captivating storyline.
Storyline
What the Peeper Saw is a suspenseful, psychological thriller that takes inspiration from Henry James’ Turn of the Screw. In this adaptation, a widowed English writer named Elise moves into a rural home with her 12-year-old stepson Marcus and quickly becomes obsessed with him. She believes he is hiding dark secrets, and her obsession grows when she discovers that he has used the house’s many peepholes to watch her and her new husband, Paul, having sex.
Although the film contains some mild nudity, it is not considered indecent. Nevertheless, the original version of this film was controversial, especially since child sexual exploitation and intergenerational affection were taboo at the time. In order to comply with censorship laws, a number of scenes were cut from the film. This restored version, titled Night Hair Child, will be released on Blu-ray on November 18. The release is part of VCI Entertainment’s ”boutique” strategy, which is intended to create collectibles for hardcore horror fans.
Cast
What the Peeper Saw stars Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, Hardy Kruger, and Lilli Palmer. It is a captivating blend of various genres and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot revolves around a wealthy author’s second wife, who begins to suspect that her 12-year-old stepson may be involved in his mother’s mysterious death. The movie has received a Reelgood score of 57 and is available to rent or purchase on Vudu. It also features a dream sequence in which Elise strips down and attempts to have sex with Marcus. The scene is presented differently on the VHS and Blu-ray versions of the film.
Rating
What the Peeper Saw is a compelling drama, thriller, and mystery movie that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Its exciting storyline and excellent cinematography are what make this film a must-see. The movie focuses on a woman’s suspicion that her 12-year-old stepson may have been involved in his mother’s murder, keeping viewers guessing until the end.
This salacious movie — also known as Diabolica Malicia and Night Hair Child — caused quite a stir due to its nudity and implied underage sex scene. It features a battle of wills between Elise and her psychopathic stepson, Marcus, which results in some embarrassing performances by Britt Ekland.
The movie stars Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, Hardy Kruger, and Lilli Palmer and is rated R. It has a running time of 1 hr 29 min and is available to rent, purchase, or stream via subscription on Vudu Free and Plex. It has an IMDb user score of 58 out of 100, which is pretty high for a movie from 1972. This is probably due to the excellent acting by the cast and the intriguing storyline.
