William Malone is probably the least credible director on the 'Masters of Horror' roster (with the exception of series creator Mick Garris), as his only 'big' film credits are the appalling House on Haunted Hill and the universally hated Feardotcom. This makes it all the more incredible that The Fair-Haired Child is actually one of the series highlights! The reason why Malone's entry works so well is because it utilises a strong story, which keeps it simple and doesn't go over the top; thus making it perfect for 55 minutes of screen time. The plot follows a young girl who is abducted. She wakes up in a strange environment, and her situation depreciates when she's thrown in the basement with a weird kid who can't speak. The tale works because we are fed just enough information to ensure that it stays interesting, without going enough into the tale so that we fully know what's going on. The twist in the tale is revealed via a set of very eerie flashbacks, and even though the actual idea behind the story isn't very original; it is very well handled. All this is topped off by a superb atmosphere, which gives the piece a very sinister tone. The scenes that take place in the basement look great and even hokey demon doesn't look too far out of place. Unlike a lot of the rest of the series; this one comes highly recommended!