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Overall Rating : 8/10
Directed By : William Malone
Jesse Haddock
Lori Petty (Tank Girl)
Walter Phelan (House Of 1000 Corpses)
Lindsay Pulsipher
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : Dec. 9, 2006
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| PLOT A warlock couple abduct a young teenage girl to sacrifice her to a mysterious and evil entity as an offering to resurrect their long-dead boy. |
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| THE REVIEW With the DVD release of Director William Malone's THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD, Anchor Bay thus completes the release of the first season of MASTERS OF HORROR, and on a good note... THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD tells the story of a strange couple by the name of Anton and Judith. When celebrating their son Jonathan's 15th Birthday, Jonathan goes for a swim in the nearby lake - an incident that would see the boy drown. Devastated by the loss of their son, Anton and Judith, both participators in some brand of black magic, make an interesting deal with their "God". The stipulation for the deal being that for 12 years the couple are to sacrifice 12 children on Jonathan's birthday and the twelfth sacrifice would see their son become fully alive once again. At the beginning of the episode we are greeted with a flashback of sorts that seems to be the birth of Jonathan. We then move on to meet a young shy school girl by the name of Tara, whom seems to want to be the social type but just can't break away from her own restraints. While riding her bike home from school, Tara is suddenly struck by a van, that had virtually came from nowhere, and thus the viewer is guessing already... Tara wakes up unaware of where see is but it appears to be a hospital and a lady dressed in a nurse's outfit would suggest it also. The nurse begins to ask young Tara a variety of questions.... the most peculiar being..."have you been baptized". Tara is about as puzzled then as any viewer would be that is watching, she calls her Mom to pick her up, but she seems incoherent on the other end of the phone....so at last resort Tara decides to leave on her own. It is the revealed that the curious nurse is really Judith and along with Husband Anton they prevent her from leaving and stow her away in a basement. Battered and confused Tara there meets a teenage boy that we find out to be Jonathan. It seems that for every year and sacrifice made, Jonathan comes to life but only vaguely and limited - inter-changing between human form and a monstrous "Thing", that devours the sacrificed children. At daybreak on Jonathan's Birthday, Tara is supposed to die thus bringing Judith and Anton's lost child back to them, but there is one problem, during the time that Tara and Jonathan has been locked away together, they have seemed to bond, and Jonathan does not want to take his new found friend's life. In the end we find that fate is unchangeable and Tara does die ad the hands of the Monster but not without consequence. In a shocking turn of events, it turns out that the newly reborn Jonathan has made a deal his own and that he has sacrificed his greedy parents in order to bring back Tara, his friend and someone he seems to have feelings for.... First off, I just have to say "Wow and give huge credit to the writer of this episode entitled THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD, for this is probably the most complete, and solid story I have seen for the first season of MASTERS OF HORROR. From the time we meet Tara In which plays out much like a film such as CARRIE, to her sudden kidnapping, the viewer is hooked. From then on we meet a pair of deeply psychological characters in the parents and later find a relationship between the main character Tara and Jonathan that is really and truly heart warming. From their initial meeting in the basement, we feel for them all the way until it becomes apparent that young Jonathan does not like what his parents have made him. As for the fright in the film, as much as relationships found in the film touch us, Malone brings a dark feels to this 1 hour film, to remind us that, yes this is a good old fashion Horror story. The basement is ornamented with dark and gloomy hues that sometimes only reveal half of our character's faces that is just perfect for the flow and expression of the film. When speaking of the Creature that Jonathan transforms to, well that is also creepy. Played by Walter Phelan(whom portrayed Dr. Satan in HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES), moves in distinct and robotic like ways that do not fail to give you the chills to say the least.....this along with the acting is near perfect. Speaking of the acting, I loved it a lot. Veterans Lori Petty and William Samples, prove to be great choices here, as they are quite convincing in their roles as a somewhat sinister witchcraft wielding couple. And opposite them are two young performers whom bring to life two very believable efforts, that being Jesse Haddock and Lindsay Pulsipher . I guess me being of the Male species I was more drawn to the performance of Lindsay Pulsipher, whom is just great here - I was absolutely intrigued by the charm she brought to the character of Tara... I have to admit that this episode, was one that I enjoyed all the way through, from it's story, atmosphere, and it's likeable characters...I found it to be solid beginning to end. |
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| GORE
METER 3.5/10 I'd say that this one sports very little gore, but is effective, some blood splatter and strangulation is here but most memorable is when Judith's face is smashed against a door! |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 5.5/10 It first when I heard the classical tunes played in this film, I thought it was rather awkward, but as it progresses it instantly becomes a perfect fit.... |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM Honestly, THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD was one episode I was not looking forward to, due to the fact that I am not a big fan of Malone's previous work - namely FEARDOTCOM and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL. But after viewing this one, I have to shamelessly say that THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD is without any doubt my favorite episode of the first season - HIGHLY Recommend! This DVD will be released on December 12, 2006 |
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