B-list filmmaker William Malone no doubt secured his position on "Masters of Horror" by his association with series creator Mick Garris, not because he has any good movies under his belt. That being said, his contribution to the series is a bloody knockout. 'The Fair-Haired Child' follows Tara (Lindsey Pulsipher), an antisocial schoolgirl who is accosted by a child-like (and for all practical purposes, nutzoid) pianist Anton (William Samples), and Judith (a surprisingly creepy Lori Petty), his cello-playing skeleton of a wife. These two desperate characters are looking to resurrect their son by sacrificing 12 children to a malevolent force, and Tara is their lucky number; confined to the inescapable basement, she meets Johnny (Jesse Haddock), who hides a dark secret. While most MOH episodes have been remarkably bland in terms of visual style, Malone should be commended for his experimental technique (consisting of different film speeds, POV shots, and black-and-white imagery), which makes the episode much more dynamic. He approaches Matt Greenberg's script as a cautionary tale and puts the emphasis on character instead of gore; the performances are wonderfully wacky, and the KNB FX are among the best in the series. Along with 'Deer Woman,' 'Dance of the Dead,' and 'Sick Girl,' 'The Fair-Haired Child' is one of the first season's must-see episodes.
38 Reviews
The best thing William Malone has directed so far
The_Void3 May 2006
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!
Two per One - The Hidden Dealer
claudio_carvalho26 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The virgin teenager Tara (Lindsey Pulsipher) is outcast in school and neglected by her mother. While riding her bike back home from school, she is drugged, kidnapped and brought to an isolated mansion by the insane pianist Anton (William Samples). His cellist wife Judith (Lori Petty) lures Tara to obtain personal information, and then they lock her in the basement where she meets their son Johnny (Jesse Haddock) trying to commit suicide. Tara discovers that the creepy couple lost their son drowned in a lake twelve years ago, and have made a pact with a demon to bring him back to life. The price would be the sacrifice of twelve teenagers, and Tara is the last one.
"The Fair Haired Child" is another good episode of "Masters of Horror". The story is original, with a surprising twist in the end and very well acted and directed. Lori Petty is unrecognizable, with a creepy appearance of a deranged woman and the unknown and gorgeous Lindsey Pulsipher recalled me Emilie de Ravin, the Claire Littleton of "Lost". My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Pacto com o Demônio" ("Pact with the Demon")
"The Fair Haired Child" is another good episode of "Masters of Horror". The story is original, with a surprising twist in the end and very well acted and directed. Lori Petty is unrecognizable, with a creepy appearance of a deranged woman and the unknown and gorgeous Lindsey Pulsipher recalled me Emilie de Ravin, the Claire Littleton of "Lost". My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Pacto com o Demônio" ("Pact with the Demon")
A far better than "fair" addition to the scary series!
stacilayne21 March 2006
When a high school student finds herself kidnapped, spirited away to far-off place, and locked in the basement of old, defunct music academy with a suicidal young man and an evil demon, her troubles are just beginning.
Fair-Haired Child only has one recognizable name actor in it Lori Petty but the entire small cast is top-notch. Director William Malone does a good job in the one-hour format bringing together the threads of a story that span 15 years and culminate in a single night of unspeakable evil.
The attention to detail in Fair-Haired Child from the elegant décor of the stately mansion inside, to the bony wind chimes that gruesomely clink in the night outside is breathtaking, and the cinematography is sumptuous. The music, too, plays an important role.
The Masters of Horror anthology series has done a great job so far of not following a theme; while all of the episodes are horror, they're not zingers ala Twilight Zone, or morality yarns ala Tales From the Crypt. Malone's entry is more along the lines of a traditional supernatural horror story, and it's got some good scares and fun visuals. It's a far better than "fair" addition to the scary series!
Fair-Haired Child only has one recognizable name actor in it Lori Petty but the entire small cast is top-notch. Director William Malone does a good job in the one-hour format bringing together the threads of a story that span 15 years and culminate in a single night of unspeakable evil.
The attention to detail in Fair-Haired Child from the elegant décor of the stately mansion inside, to the bony wind chimes that gruesomely clink in the night outside is breathtaking, and the cinematography is sumptuous. The music, too, plays an important role.
The Masters of Horror anthology series has done a great job so far of not following a theme; while all of the episodes are horror, they're not zingers ala Twilight Zone, or morality yarns ala Tales From the Crypt. Malone's entry is more along the lines of a traditional supernatural horror story, and it's got some good scares and fun visuals. It's a far better than "fair" addition to the scary series!
Wasted potential
DeadpoolX29 January 2007
I question William Malone's status as a "master" of horror, but that goes for the majority of the directors Mick Garris has assembled to helm the series. "The Fair-Haired Child" is a middle-of-the-road episode with a lot of potential that's largely wasted. The music hall setting is atmospheric but underused. The monster is unsettling and well-designed, but we don't see enough of it. It's been a while since we've seen Lori Petty, who's starting to show her age, and she's not given much to work with here; it seems odd to give an actress primarily known for her kinetic goofiness such a stiff and humorless character. "The Fair-Haired Child" is one of those episodes that could have been better as a feature-length film. It certainly would have benefited from a less irritating protagonist; the kidnapped girl is unbearably shrill and seems to get dumber as the episode progresses. There were a few mildly frightening sequences here, and some skillful visual direction from time to time, but I can't justify a rating higher than a 6. It's not bad, but it's far from masterful.
Solid entry to the series
DVD_Connoisseur10 February 2007
William Malone isn't an obvious choice for "Masters of Horror". His big-screen efforts have been hit-and-miss efforts at best. However, as co-creator of the series, it was an obvious move for him to have a shot at directing an episode.
"The Fair-Haired Child" is a surprisingly good instalment, although it's far from being the best tale. Malone creates a suitably creepy and dark atmosphere for the proceedings. Great acting from the cast and truly hair-raising effects result in a gripping episode. Walter ("Dr. Satan") Phelan plays a nightmare character and one that will remain in the viewer's memory for a long time.
It's always great to see Lori Petty and in this "Masters of Horror" story she delivers a memorably sinister performance as Judith. William Samples is excellent as her on-the-edge husband and "partner-in-crime".
It's the young cast members who really carry this piece, though. Lindsay Pulsipher plays the loner, Tara, who is kidnapped and thrown into the basement from hell. Jesse Haddock plays the mysterious Johnny whose fate is soon to become linked with that of fellow prisoner Tara.
Recommended viewing. A strong 7 out of 10.
"The Fair-Haired Child" is a surprisingly good instalment, although it's far from being the best tale. Malone creates a suitably creepy and dark atmosphere for the proceedings. Great acting from the cast and truly hair-raising effects result in a gripping episode. Walter ("Dr. Satan") Phelan plays a nightmare character and one that will remain in the viewer's memory for a long time.
It's always great to see Lori Petty and in this "Masters of Horror" story she delivers a memorably sinister performance as Judith. William Samples is excellent as her on-the-edge husband and "partner-in-crime".
It's the young cast members who really carry this piece, though. Lindsay Pulsipher plays the loner, Tara, who is kidnapped and thrown into the basement from hell. Jesse Haddock plays the mysterious Johnny whose fate is soon to become linked with that of fellow prisoner Tara.
Recommended viewing. A strong 7 out of 10.
Beware Of The Fair Haired Child!
Witchfinder-General-66627 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Calling William Malone a "Master Of Horror" is quite an overestimation since he is probably not a bad director, but is work is far away from being essential Horror. "Creature" (1985) is certainly no genre classic, and his 1999 "House On Haunted Hill", was an OK remake due to a very good performance by Geoffrey Rush, but it was nowhere near the eeriness and brilliance of William Castle's original masterpiece starring the great Vincent Price. Malone's "Masters Of Horror" episode, "The Fair Haired Child", however, is immensely creepy and atmospheric, and definitely increases Malone's worth as a director. The performances are entirely very good, the episode has a great atmosphere and the classical score fits in perfectly. I personally didn't quite find it as suspenseful as some of the other episodes I've seen so far. I've become a big fan of the "Masters Of Horror" series, and I have to say that the quality of the episodes differs immensely. While there are some episodes that I found brilliant, such as Takashi Miike's "Imprint" (the absolute greatest episode of the entire series), Dario Argento's "Pelts", John Carpenter's "Cigarette Burns" or Peter Medak's "The Washingtonians", some other episodes were disappointing, such as Mick Garris' "Chocolate" or Tobe Hooper's "Dance Of The Dead". "The Fair Haired Child" fortunately belongs to the first category as one of the best episodes of the first season.
Teenage Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher), an outsider at her high school, is kidnapped and brought to a mansion in the middle of nowhere by a creepy couple, Anton (William Samples) and Judith (Lori Petty). The two have lost their 15 year old son in an accident 12 years ago, and made a pact with a mysterious and evil deity, to sacrifice teenagers in order to bring their own son back to life...
Lindsay Pulsipher delivers a great performance in the lead, and so do William Samples and 'Tank Girl' Lori Petty in their roles of the parents who are willing to do anything to get their son back to life. The atmosphere is quite creepy, and, as mentioned above, the score fits in really well. "The Fair Haired Child" has all the ingredients a great MoH episode needs. It is immensely creepy, suspenseful from the beginning, well-acted and macabre. And What else could a Horror fan ask for? 8/10
- Warning! Possible Minor Spoilers! -
Teenage Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher), an outsider at her high school, is kidnapped and brought to a mansion in the middle of nowhere by a creepy couple, Anton (William Samples) and Judith (Lori Petty). The two have lost their 15 year old son in an accident 12 years ago, and made a pact with a mysterious and evil deity, to sacrifice teenagers in order to bring their own son back to life...
Lindsay Pulsipher delivers a great performance in the lead, and so do William Samples and 'Tank Girl' Lori Petty in their roles of the parents who are willing to do anything to get their son back to life. The atmosphere is quite creepy, and, as mentioned above, the score fits in really well. "The Fair Haired Child" has all the ingredients a great MoH episode needs. It is immensely creepy, suspenseful from the beginning, well-acted and macabre. And What else could a Horror fan ask for? 8/10
An Unexpected Gem, Malone has proved he can be a Master of Horror.
Max-Quin-l29 October 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Wow! What can I say; I was completely taken aback. Not simply because this was one of the better episodes, up there for me personally with the likes of John Landis's "Deer Women" but simply because I couldn't believe who the director was. You might know William Malone from his infamous "Fear Dot Com" and "House on Haunted Hill" for someone who has quite literally only produced bile so far, his recent addition into the Masters of Horror series "Fair-Hair Child" comes across as nothing other than a complete an utter unexpected gem.
The premise of this episode revolves around a young girl named Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher) who is a complete outcast and considered a 'freak' among her peers, is suddenly kidnapped when she is cycling home. She ends up in what appears to be a hospital, but upon trying to escape she is confronted by her kidnapper Anton (William Samples) the nurse who Tara first meet upon awakening is in fact the kidnapper's wife Judith (Lori Petty.) They then throw Tara in what appears to be a basement. It turns out that someone else is also down there, a mute child Johnny (Jesse Haddock.) However as things unfold it turns out the child is the son of both Anton & Judith, whose son recently drowned, but using a ritual of sorts they were able to bring him back, on one condition they were to sacrifice "12" children. Tara is the last of the "12" and tries to survive Johnny's periodical transformations into a monster-like abomination.
The films strong points come from its creepiness and pure flat out frights. Johnny's abomination like transformation comes across as scary and creepy, and there clearly has been a lot of thought put into the movement and visual nature of the creature which only makes it creepier. The constant stream of problems Tara has to face and the survival factor of the episode kept me constantly tense. No one likes to be thrown into a basement with a monster and no way out. Malone also uses some brilliant Cinematography, he also uses a wide range of other effects such as the POV shots used in the flashbacks to tell the narrative of Johnny's death and the multitude of other effects such as the Black & White colorization and the smooth 'clinks' and 'tinks' produced by appropriate Sound SFX. This is one of the episodes that uses the least gore but packs more surprises as a result.
The plot and characters on the other hand is a little flimsy. While we do feel for Tara due to her current predicament and the bad life she has faced she still sways closely to the stereotypical quiet girl who gets a whole lot more noisy, not to mention the amount of cliché's in the plot from the whole over-the-top psycho parents who want their son back, the whole demonic ritual to-bring-him-back crap and the fact that I personally already knew the Fair-Haired child was Johnny from the moment I saw him but the director kept trying to add mystery on top of things that were clearly quite cliché and obvious. The characters came across as flat and the plot too thin. The acting was decent for the most part William Samples done a decent job as Anton and Lindsay Pulsipher as Tara, but it's nothing extraordinary. The creature reminded me of something out of "The Devils' Backbone" The episode did have a quite unpredictable turn of events when monster Johnny ate Tara, for which there was a gruesome and grotesque scene, I mean who wants to be eaten alive by that 'thing'. The movie ended on a nice note when the parents got there duely deserved dish of revenge as Johnny reincarnated Tara using a similar ritual, however he bargained for the lives of only two people to return her to flesh (in this case Anton & Judith) who were chomped on by a monster Tara at the end leading to a happy cheer from me personally; this fell into the whole cliché happy ending too soon afterwards though, which was sort of disappointing.
These facts aside William Malone has proved he can be a Master of Horror especially when other more well received directors, have produced much, much worse episodes such as Tobe Hooper's "Dance of the Dead". Sure the characters and plot are a little flimsy but the scares and creepiness of the episode hits where it counts; let's hope Malone can learn from what he's done here.
The premise of this episode revolves around a young girl named Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher) who is a complete outcast and considered a 'freak' among her peers, is suddenly kidnapped when she is cycling home. She ends up in what appears to be a hospital, but upon trying to escape she is confronted by her kidnapper Anton (William Samples) the nurse who Tara first meet upon awakening is in fact the kidnapper's wife Judith (Lori Petty.) They then throw Tara in what appears to be a basement. It turns out that someone else is also down there, a mute child Johnny (Jesse Haddock.) However as things unfold it turns out the child is the son of both Anton & Judith, whose son recently drowned, but using a ritual of sorts they were able to bring him back, on one condition they were to sacrifice "12" children. Tara is the last of the "12" and tries to survive Johnny's periodical transformations into a monster-like abomination.
The films strong points come from its creepiness and pure flat out frights. Johnny's abomination like transformation comes across as scary and creepy, and there clearly has been a lot of thought put into the movement and visual nature of the creature which only makes it creepier. The constant stream of problems Tara has to face and the survival factor of the episode kept me constantly tense. No one likes to be thrown into a basement with a monster and no way out. Malone also uses some brilliant Cinematography, he also uses a wide range of other effects such as the POV shots used in the flashbacks to tell the narrative of Johnny's death and the multitude of other effects such as the Black & White colorization and the smooth 'clinks' and 'tinks' produced by appropriate Sound SFX. This is one of the episodes that uses the least gore but packs more surprises as a result.
The plot and characters on the other hand is a little flimsy. While we do feel for Tara due to her current predicament and the bad life she has faced she still sways closely to the stereotypical quiet girl who gets a whole lot more noisy, not to mention the amount of cliché's in the plot from the whole over-the-top psycho parents who want their son back, the whole demonic ritual to-bring-him-back crap and the fact that I personally already knew the Fair-Haired child was Johnny from the moment I saw him but the director kept trying to add mystery on top of things that were clearly quite cliché and obvious. The characters came across as flat and the plot too thin. The acting was decent for the most part William Samples done a decent job as Anton and Lindsay Pulsipher as Tara, but it's nothing extraordinary. The creature reminded me of something out of "The Devils' Backbone" The episode did have a quite unpredictable turn of events when monster Johnny ate Tara, for which there was a gruesome and grotesque scene, I mean who wants to be eaten alive by that 'thing'. The movie ended on a nice note when the parents got there duely deserved dish of revenge as Johnny reincarnated Tara using a similar ritual, however he bargained for the lives of only two people to return her to flesh (in this case Anton & Judith) who were chomped on by a monster Tara at the end leading to a happy cheer from me personally; this fell into the whole cliché happy ending too soon afterwards though, which was sort of disappointing.
These facts aside William Malone has proved he can be a Master of Horror especially when other more well received directors, have produced much, much worse episodes such as Tobe Hooper's "Dance of the Dead". Sure the characters and plot are a little flimsy but the scares and creepiness of the episode hits where it counts; let's hope Malone can learn from what he's done here.
Malone explodes onto the screen as a true Master of Horror
Slowly_I_Turned28 August 2006
Like everyone else, I was somewhat concerned about what this episode would be like. Malone's films have, in the past, been rocky. He has done some great stuff but there have also been some disappointments. There have been moments of brilliance and you can never be sure what restrictions have been put on a filmmaker by studios and producers. I guess we now know because I was really shocked at how good this episode is. After watching all the other episodes of Masters last season, this one is in a league of it's own. William Malone manages to pull off something of a magic act combining great scares, a wonderfully atmospheric mood and terrific performances and all on a small budget. I think it really shows what this guy can do when left to do his work. Why isn't this guy making huge movies? Wake up Hollywood!!!!
An interesting entry into the "Master's of Horror" series.
Aaron137526 July 2009
My favorite of the show still has to be John Carpenter's "Cigarette Burns" as it has a very interesting plot that I kind of wish could have been explored more. This one was rather good too, though it too could have really benefited from an extra ten or fifteen minutes of runtime to explain the story more. A girl is kidnapped and brought to a house where she is eventually left in a basement type area where she meets a boy who is not all that he appears to be. The two others in the house are obviously harboring secrets of the deadly kind and the main girl in the stories time is running out. You get your mystery type situation and a rather good ending too. Just needs more filler, perhaps more information on the parents and stuff like that. However, that can be said about all the movies in this series, they all seem to need a bit more. As for gore there is a bit, no nudity in it though. The performances are pretty good, but it was rather shocking to see how bad Lori Petty looks now. So for a couple of scares and a somewhat incomplete story this one is like almost every "Master's of Horror" episode.
Couldn't get in the saddle
Poe-1723 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I love the "Masters of Horror" series and the opportunity it creates for experimental "little movies" for we who love horror and for the directors in question. This series has spawned several complaints about the "Masters" in the title. Maybe they could have chosen a better word for the world's retentive but in a society riddled with hype, I took the "Masters" with a grain of salt. I'd like to see a series of "Unknowns". I like the way different directors bring different nuances (and wild opposites)to the idea of a horror film.
Which brings me to "Fair Haired Child". I know IMDb has lifted this one above the 5.0 middle but, you know what ... it didn't work for me. I couldn't get in the saddle. I loathed "Fear.Com" because it wasted an opportunity, I own "House on Haunted Hill" because of ... the house, not the tale. For tale, I also own the original B&W. I don't mean to pound Malone because I genuinely believe something is stirring there and maybe his "Parasomnia" will let it loose. I felt "FHC" tried to insert "art" into the movie. Horror films can go "art" but it is a syncronicity or "aftermath". Do the horror first. Time and audience (not critics)will determine if a horror film made the "art" level. It's a wobbly distinction at best. Trying to force it into a film is nearly a warranty that it ain't gonna happen. It's an afterward, not a strategy. Unless, of course, you genuinely are a "master" of horror. There aren't many. After riding the clichéd story to the revelation of the FHC, I said aloud "Oh, &*^%" because it was just a tremendous letdown. So, so buildup and way the wrong direction for FHC. All the above with a very pedestrian wrap up ... I wanted to but just couldn't.
Which brings me to "Fair Haired Child". I know IMDb has lifted this one above the 5.0 middle but, you know what ... it didn't work for me. I couldn't get in the saddle. I loathed "Fear.Com" because it wasted an opportunity, I own "House on Haunted Hill" because of ... the house, not the tale. For tale, I also own the original B&W. I don't mean to pound Malone because I genuinely believe something is stirring there and maybe his "Parasomnia" will let it loose. I felt "FHC" tried to insert "art" into the movie. Horror films can go "art" but it is a syncronicity or "aftermath". Do the horror first. Time and audience (not critics)will determine if a horror film made the "art" level. It's a wobbly distinction at best. Trying to force it into a film is nearly a warranty that it ain't gonna happen. It's an afterward, not a strategy. Unless, of course, you genuinely are a "master" of horror. There aren't many. After riding the clichéd story to the revelation of the FHC, I said aloud "Oh, &*^%" because it was just a tremendous letdown. So, so buildup and way the wrong direction for FHC. All the above with a very pedestrian wrap up ... I wanted to but just couldn't.
Horror With Happy Ending
Bored_Dragon20 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"The Fair Haired Child" is more morbid drama than horror. Here, gore and shockers are put aside to make way to parental love and madness caused by the loss of a child, social anxiety and loneliness, an inner struggle between the urge for survival and love for the other, and romance that is often found where we least expect it. All packed in a sick story about the bloody pact that a married couple makes with a demon in order to revive the dead son. Under the baton of the "weakest" director of the first season, one of the better episodes was created and probably his best film. I especially like the unusual choice of the ending, because it is essentially happy ending, which is very unusual for this genre.
8/10.
8/10.
THE MASTERS, Part Two: "The Fair-Haired Child"
cchase20 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
It could be said that William Malone's inclusion in the roster of "Masters of Horror" auteurs somewhat dampens the credibility of the series, since the most marginally successful films to his credit are the fitfully entertaining HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL remake and the more unfortunate FEARdotCOM, both made for Dark Castle Pictures. (I don't think anybody's doing him any favors by mentioning SCARED TO DEATH or CREATURE.)
But since the series also features the presence of directors with even less extensive pedigrees, (though it's arguable that Lucky McKee's one film, MAY, runs rings around some of his colleagues with two-dozen films under their belt), what's more important here is the quality of the episodes produced NOW, not the past work.
CHILD, not surprisingly, doesn't stray very far from the concepts and imagery that made HOHH work in the first place. Which is fine, since writer Matt Greenberg provides only about as much originality as he's been accustomed to summoning up, working on scripts for sequels, (HALLOWEEN H2O, THE PROPHECY II.)
Your regular parochial school outcast, the shy and sullen Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher) is shlumping through her usual miserable day at school, probably not expecting much of anything different to happen when all of a sudden it does...she gets blindsided by a mysterious van, whose driver (William Samples) provides the dazed and bruised schoolgirl with an unusual form of assistance...he chloroforms her, and dumps her unconscious body into the back of the van.
When she awakens, she finds herself in the proverbial Big and Evil House In The Woods, being "looked after" by Judith (Lori Petty), a 'nurse'with a rather disagreeable bedside manner and the driver of the van, Anton, who turns out to be Judith's hubby.
When Tara turns from sullen to shrilly uncooperative, Judith and Anton toss her ass-over-teakettle into a basement right out of a Goya painting, where she discovers a pitiful and terrified young boy, Johnny (Jesse Haddock), who is almost speechless with fear, warning Tara of something else in the basement with them that lives there, something that's coming back, soon. Once discovered, the secret of that hideous "something" informs the two teens that they are locked in a life-and-death-struggle with supernatural forces that one or both of them may not survive, and they have their adult captors to thank for it...
As usual, all is not what it seems, and those with infinite patience will be rewarded with a twisted yet satisfying ending, pretty typical of this and other horror anthology series' more "middle-of-the-roadkill' episodes.
Kind of a "Hansel and Gretel" retelling stood on its head by the musings of H. P. Lovecraft, CHILD is mostly okay, but not a great hour-long short. Petty and Samples' delusional and distraught parents at times threaten to go so far over the top in their portrayals, that you almost expect them to grow 'Snidely Whiplash' mustaches they can conveniently twirl between every line or so. And Pulsipher's Tara alternates mostly between shrilly petulant and MORE shrilly petulant, inspiring such irritation at times that one might find one's self hoping that what's coming to destroy them will eat her first, and SOON.
Haddock seems to be the only one playing his part just right. Johnny's pain and terror are completely palpable, and he makes you feel for his character, even once the "secret" of the Fair-Haired Child is revealed, (and more observant viewers will know what that is about a minute and a half after meeting Johnny).
Nothing to rave about, director Malone keeps CHILD at least as entertaining and occasionally creepy as the better parts of HOHH. Maybe with more experience, more time and a better budget, he could put something together one of these days that will really break us out in egg-sized goosebumps. For now, CHILD gets ** out of **** stars.
But since the series also features the presence of directors with even less extensive pedigrees, (though it's arguable that Lucky McKee's one film, MAY, runs rings around some of his colleagues with two-dozen films under their belt), what's more important here is the quality of the episodes produced NOW, not the past work.
CHILD, not surprisingly, doesn't stray very far from the concepts and imagery that made HOHH work in the first place. Which is fine, since writer Matt Greenberg provides only about as much originality as he's been accustomed to summoning up, working on scripts for sequels, (HALLOWEEN H2O, THE PROPHECY II.)
Your regular parochial school outcast, the shy and sullen Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher) is shlumping through her usual miserable day at school, probably not expecting much of anything different to happen when all of a sudden it does...she gets blindsided by a mysterious van, whose driver (William Samples) provides the dazed and bruised schoolgirl with an unusual form of assistance...he chloroforms her, and dumps her unconscious body into the back of the van.
When she awakens, she finds herself in the proverbial Big and Evil House In The Woods, being "looked after" by Judith (Lori Petty), a 'nurse'with a rather disagreeable bedside manner and the driver of the van, Anton, who turns out to be Judith's hubby.
When Tara turns from sullen to shrilly uncooperative, Judith and Anton toss her ass-over-teakettle into a basement right out of a Goya painting, where she discovers a pitiful and terrified young boy, Johnny (Jesse Haddock), who is almost speechless with fear, warning Tara of something else in the basement with them that lives there, something that's coming back, soon. Once discovered, the secret of that hideous "something" informs the two teens that they are locked in a life-and-death-struggle with supernatural forces that one or both of them may not survive, and they have their adult captors to thank for it...
As usual, all is not what it seems, and those with infinite patience will be rewarded with a twisted yet satisfying ending, pretty typical of this and other horror anthology series' more "middle-of-the-roadkill' episodes.
Kind of a "Hansel and Gretel" retelling stood on its head by the musings of H. P. Lovecraft, CHILD is mostly okay, but not a great hour-long short. Petty and Samples' delusional and distraught parents at times threaten to go so far over the top in their portrayals, that you almost expect them to grow 'Snidely Whiplash' mustaches they can conveniently twirl between every line or so. And Pulsipher's Tara alternates mostly between shrilly petulant and MORE shrilly petulant, inspiring such irritation at times that one might find one's self hoping that what's coming to destroy them will eat her first, and SOON.
Haddock seems to be the only one playing his part just right. Johnny's pain and terror are completely palpable, and he makes you feel for his character, even once the "secret" of the Fair-Haired Child is revealed, (and more observant viewers will know what that is about a minute and a half after meeting Johnny).
Nothing to rave about, director Malone keeps CHILD at least as entertaining and occasionally creepy as the better parts of HOHH. Maybe with more experience, more time and a better budget, he could put something together one of these days that will really break us out in egg-sized goosebumps. For now, CHILD gets ** out of **** stars.
Director William Malone knocks your socks off with this cool and creepy fright-fest
steven-47621 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I have enjoyed director William Malone's work since he turned out a roller coaster of a "House on Haunted Hill" remake. Why isn't this guy directing the next "Harry Potter" or something?
"The Fair Haired Child," a film in Showtime's "Masters of Horror" series, is a moody shocker with some truly scary moments. It literally starts with a bang when Tara (a well-cast Lindsay Pulsipher), a troubled high school girl, is intentionally slammed into by Anton's (William Samples) cargo van.
Hurt and bleeding, she's helped into the van and spirited away to what appears to be a hospital, but is instead a rural manor where Anton and his wife, Judith (a creepy Lori Petty) run a boarding house in terror. When she asks too many questions, poor Tara is tossed into the basement where she's befriended by Johnny (Jesse Haddock), another traumatized prisoner, who claims that some weird chit is coming down the pike.
Malone sets this all up beautifully. I remember seeing one of his "Tales from the Crypt" episodes - it was another riveting tale of a masked party girl who takes an obnoxious guy back to her apartment for what he thinks is going to be a slam bang evening, but turns it into his worst nightmare - especially when he finds out she's not really wearing a mask... It had more tension than "Basic Instinct."
Well, "The Fair Haired Child" is a different story entirely, but the same creeping claustrophobia comes to play and Malone makes use of every nuance of his characters, his location, his props, his lighting. He's a true artist with a wonderful palette of moods and images.
Malone knows how to make whatever's on screen feel essential, he doesn't waste film or shots and "The Fair Haired Child" makes the most of a limited budget. Okay, it's not the most original piece in the world, but Malone gives it weight and tension and style. And that's why I liked it - I enjoyed his artistic choices and I'd like to see what he does next on the big screen.
"The Fair Haired Child," a film in Showtime's "Masters of Horror" series, is a moody shocker with some truly scary moments. It literally starts with a bang when Tara (a well-cast Lindsay Pulsipher), a troubled high school girl, is intentionally slammed into by Anton's (William Samples) cargo van.
Hurt and bleeding, she's helped into the van and spirited away to what appears to be a hospital, but is instead a rural manor where Anton and his wife, Judith (a creepy Lori Petty) run a boarding house in terror. When she asks too many questions, poor Tara is tossed into the basement where she's befriended by Johnny (Jesse Haddock), another traumatized prisoner, who claims that some weird chit is coming down the pike.
Malone sets this all up beautifully. I remember seeing one of his "Tales from the Crypt" episodes - it was another riveting tale of a masked party girl who takes an obnoxious guy back to her apartment for what he thinks is going to be a slam bang evening, but turns it into his worst nightmare - especially when he finds out she's not really wearing a mask... It had more tension than "Basic Instinct."
Well, "The Fair Haired Child" is a different story entirely, but the same creeping claustrophobia comes to play and Malone makes use of every nuance of his characters, his location, his props, his lighting. He's a true artist with a wonderful palette of moods and images.
Malone knows how to make whatever's on screen feel essential, he doesn't waste film or shots and "The Fair Haired Child" makes the most of a limited budget. Okay, it's not the most original piece in the world, but Malone gives it weight and tension and style. And that's why I liked it - I enjoyed his artistic choices and I'd like to see what he does next on the big screen.
By far the creepiest episode , but others are better.
harveyrock1226 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Now this is one of the best masters of horror episodes , think it is on the same line as cigarette burns and incident on and off a mountain road. They all follow behind the number 1 episode pick me up, but even so this was by far the creepiest one of all i got pretty scared when i first saw the creature its movements the face , everything about it is shockingly creepy.
And i was not expecting to jump as many times as i did , but felt that they should have shown more of the creature and played out the romance between Tara and johnny , but all is fair , great horror flick i have seen better but I have seen a lot worse.
And i was not expecting to jump as many times as i did , but felt that they should have shown more of the creature and played out the romance between Tara and johnny , but all is fair , great horror flick i have seen better but I have seen a lot worse.
Grief makes you do crazy things
super marauder8 June 2013
This really is a sad story. It's about a man and a woman who lost their only child and carry a certain amount of guilt and will do whatever it takes to bring him back. Even if it means making a deal with the devil. The ending really got me too, I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it yet. Bit I imagine for those who already saw it the ending somewhat caught them off guard too the first time they saw it.
Every director has their own little trademark and this is defiantly has a William Malone feel. I can see some cues from 'House on Haunted Hill' here which makes this creepy. I always liked Lori Petty because she's a little off beat in everything she does, and it's kind of interesting to see her with hair.
Although I gave it a 7, I really enjoyed it. It does have it's short comings for me, but it is fun to watch.
Every director has their own little trademark and this is defiantly has a William Malone feel. I can see some cues from 'House on Haunted Hill' here which makes this creepy. I always liked Lori Petty because she's a little off beat in everything she does, and it's kind of interesting to see her with hair.
Although I gave it a 7, I really enjoyed it. It does have it's short comings for me, but it is fun to watch.
Lori Petty is well cast here
trashgang24 June 2013
This episode is carried by Lori Petty (Judith). Her skinny body and her performance gave her indeed the scary and strange looking mother. And The Fair Haired Child even had a great start with the abducting of Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher). That part really looked creepy and the van hitting her bicycle was really well done. Once Tara is being locked up in the cellar we do have some creeping moments with the creature walking around but the end of this episode was so predictable and laughable that my vote went downhill.
Tara being an outcast virgin at school and having no friends is the ideal person to disappear. Once kidnapped Tara is questioned by Judith to be sure she's a virgin. That part is creepy only by the characterisation done by Lori. Once locked in the basement she comes across Johnny (Jesse Haddock) who has a dark secret but also tells Tara that the son of the couple abducting her lost their son in a lake drowning but the made a pact with the devil to arise him by sacrificing 12 youngsters.
Tara being the last one I thought that I knew where this was going and I was correct. The last 5 minutes I just couldn't believe they wrote it that way and was a let down for me. The Fair Haired Child surely had potential but failed somehow towards the end.
Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5
Tara being an outcast virgin at school and having no friends is the ideal person to disappear. Once kidnapped Tara is questioned by Judith to be sure she's a virgin. That part is creepy only by the characterisation done by Lori. Once locked in the basement she comes across Johnny (Jesse Haddock) who has a dark secret but also tells Tara that the son of the couple abducting her lost their son in a lake drowning but the made a pact with the devil to arise him by sacrificing 12 youngsters.
Tara being the last one I thought that I knew where this was going and I was correct. The last 5 minutes I just couldn't believe they wrote it that way and was a let down for me. The Fair Haired Child surely had potential but failed somehow towards the end.
Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5
Meh
timhayes-12 April 2006
I gotta say that of all the Masters from the Masters Of Horror series, Malone's position is one of dubious standing. Scared To Death and Creature were both low budget rips on Alien. Feardotcom was a waste of time. Really, his only good feature has been the House on Haunted Hill remake. Does this really qualify him as a Master? Malone's episode is full of the visual trickery he is most known for and it features one of the worst scripts of the season. Throwing in Lori "I can't act so I'll just scream my lines" Petty doesn't help any. I don't know, I just found this to be one of least involving and interesting episodes so far. More often than not, I was hitting the skip button trying to find something in the episode to make it worth my time to view the thing. It just seemed to drag on forever. Not a series highlight, that's for sure.
"The Child" suddenly turns Malone into a Master!
Coventry20 August 2006
Based on what he achieved until now, William Malone doesn't really deserve to be called a "Master" of horror. "House on the Haunted Hill" and particularly "FeardotCom" annoyed the hell out of many devoted genre fans (yours truly included) and his 80's movies ("Creature" and "Scared to Death") are the total definition of cheesy garbage. I guess if it were up to the public to select the directors for the "Masters of Horror" project, Malone would never have made the list. But I bet no one is complaining about Malone's contribution to the series now, as his little movie is one of the absolute highlights of the first season and unquestionably his best work to date! "The Fair-Haired Child" is a macabre fairy-tale that offers a constantly unsettling atmosphere as well as several genuine shock-moments and great visual effects! The desperate couple Judith (a splendid Lori Petty) and Anton made a pact with the devil to bring their teenage son back from the dead after a terrible accident. The service in return, however, demands that no less than 12 innocent have to die before Johnny is his old self again. The plot follows the last victim Tara, as she's abducted by Anton and locked up in the cellar with Johnny still in his "monstrous"-phase. Unlike, say, Tobe Hooper's segment, "The Fair-Haired Child" is both genuinely creepy AND bloody and the story is also a lot more coherent and easier to follow. Malone puts a lot of effort into the character drawings and it pays off, as Tara is a truly likable heroine and even the motives of the "evil" parents are understandable. The "Child" is an engaging monster creation, sinister & nightmarish yet not overly grotesque or ridiculous. The acting is superb (who is this adorable Lindsay Pulsipher and why isn't she a major star yet?) and Malone's directing is skillful like that of a true master. Great horror!
Masters Of Horror: The Fair-Haired Child (TV) (William Malone, 2005) **1/2
Bunuel197628 February 2009
Frankly, I had left this and SICK GIRL for last from the first "Masters Of Horror" series (though I missed out on Tobe Hooper's DANCE OF THE DEAD) because, not being the work of renowned directors, I did not expect much from them. However, both proved surprisingly rewarding more so, in fact, than some entries by respected (and long-standing) genre exponents! Anyway, while the plot here is not exactly novel a middle-aged couple make a pact with the devil to revive their beloved teenage son, the price being the life of 12 others to be carried out over a period of so many years on the occasion of their son's birthday. The initial sequence, revealing the heroine to be out-of-touch with both peers and family, was perhaps unnecessary, but I can see how it accentuated her subsequent feeling of loneliness and her attachment to the mysterious boy she encounters attempting to commit suicide! in the basement of the remote country-house to which the girl has been abducted. The back-story of the pact (with typically henpecked and doubtful male but a dedicated and ruthless female, given a masculine look to boot by her short-cropped hair) is depicted via a few stylized scenes; the appearance (and movement) of the monster in which the boy transforms in order to fulfill it, then, comes off as appropriately creepy. The overall tone of the episode is quite grim, but it manages to hold one's interest throughout eventually contriving an ironic yet strangely moving denouement.
More of a Romantic Fairy-Tale Than Horror
gavin69424 December 2006
A 15-year old girl (played by Lindsay Pulsipher) is kidnapped and imprisoned in a basement by a couple of musicians who worship some evil being, for the purpose of raising their son from the dead.
This story was decent... you have a girl who is trapped in a dungeon by a witch ("Tank Girl" Lori Petty) and warlock, with an evil demon and some nasty ravenous monster. It was like a dungeons and dragons tale in modern times or a dark fairy tale with a damsel in distress. (And fairies do play a small role, incidentally, much like they do in "Sick Girl".)
My concerns regarding the quality of this movie are with the way the story was told. First, it came across as a romance, though not a typical one... there is a definite link between the girl and a young boy named Johnny she meets in the dungeon (who is mute). Her quick attraction to him and his fondness for her seem to me a bit hard to believe, but I'll let it slide.
I also was unclear how serious the story was supposed to be taken. It could have been done in a very serious and gritty fashion (getting kidnapped and imprisoned has the potential for some morbid imagery), but the scene where her bicycle is hit by the van (shown in the preview) is rather silly, and I could not take the movie seriously after that point. I have jokingly called it "the greatest car accident in movie history".
I should have known I was in trouble when I saw the director was William Malone. The name meant nothing to me, so I went in with pretty much a bland kslate of expectations. The second time I watched this was when a friend had purchased it on impulse (without consulting me) and brought it over to another friend's house where I happened to be. On the cover of the movie, I saw "from the Director of 'Fear Dot Com'". If the nicest thing they can say about a director or the movie is a "Fear Dot Com" reference, you should know immediately you're dealing with sterile, bland and unwatchable garbage. Willaim Malone, I now know your name and I curse it.
The nicest thing I can really say about this movie, since I didn't care for the acting -- especially from Johnny -- or the story or much of anything else, is it provides some very nice shots of Lindsay Pusipher crawling through small spaces with the camera pointed from beneath her school uniform. We never really see anything, but any hot-blooded young male (and some older ones) will tell you how alluring a school uniform can be. This scene, sadly, does not make up for the rest of the film and is not very memorable in the long run. (Incidentally, how a 15-year old girl who is as attractive as Lindsay has never even been kissed and is taunted by her classmates remains a complete mystery to me.)
Upon my first viewing, I ranked this as one of the weaker films in the "Masters of Horror" series. Maybe not as bad as "Pick Me Up", but the almost complete lack of gore and total lack of nudity along with the non-scary way of telling this one made it less than stellar in presentation. After my second viewing, I found the story had even less to offer and I now think it's the worst of all. If you're going to miss only one episode, make it this one.
This story was decent... you have a girl who is trapped in a dungeon by a witch ("Tank Girl" Lori Petty) and warlock, with an evil demon and some nasty ravenous monster. It was like a dungeons and dragons tale in modern times or a dark fairy tale with a damsel in distress. (And fairies do play a small role, incidentally, much like they do in "Sick Girl".)
My concerns regarding the quality of this movie are with the way the story was told. First, it came across as a romance, though not a typical one... there is a definite link between the girl and a young boy named Johnny she meets in the dungeon (who is mute). Her quick attraction to him and his fondness for her seem to me a bit hard to believe, but I'll let it slide.
I also was unclear how serious the story was supposed to be taken. It could have been done in a very serious and gritty fashion (getting kidnapped and imprisoned has the potential for some morbid imagery), but the scene where her bicycle is hit by the van (shown in the preview) is rather silly, and I could not take the movie seriously after that point. I have jokingly called it "the greatest car accident in movie history".
I should have known I was in trouble when I saw the director was William Malone. The name meant nothing to me, so I went in with pretty much a bland kslate of expectations. The second time I watched this was when a friend had purchased it on impulse (without consulting me) and brought it over to another friend's house where I happened to be. On the cover of the movie, I saw "from the Director of 'Fear Dot Com'". If the nicest thing they can say about a director or the movie is a "Fear Dot Com" reference, you should know immediately you're dealing with sterile, bland and unwatchable garbage. Willaim Malone, I now know your name and I curse it.
The nicest thing I can really say about this movie, since I didn't care for the acting -- especially from Johnny -- or the story or much of anything else, is it provides some very nice shots of Lindsay Pusipher crawling through small spaces with the camera pointed from beneath her school uniform. We never really see anything, but any hot-blooded young male (and some older ones) will tell you how alluring a school uniform can be. This scene, sadly, does not make up for the rest of the film and is not very memorable in the long run. (Incidentally, how a 15-year old girl who is as attractive as Lindsay has never even been kissed and is taunted by her classmates remains a complete mystery to me.)
Upon my first viewing, I ranked this as one of the weaker films in the "Masters of Horror" series. Maybe not as bad as "Pick Me Up", but the almost complete lack of gore and total lack of nudity along with the non-scary way of telling this one made it less than stellar in presentation. After my second viewing, I found the story had even less to offer and I now think it's the worst of all. If you're going to miss only one episode, make it this one.
Demon Child
hellraiser726 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Warning do not read unless you've seen episode.
This tale surprised me, this turned out to actually be one of my favorite tales for the show in my book.
It's a really twisted and dark urban brothers Grimm like tale which is cool because I love Grimms Fairy Tales most of them were really dark even scary which made this short true in it's tradition.
I like the use of the seedy basement locale, from how dark, dusty, decrepit it is it really has just this unsettling and claustrophobic sensibility. The suspense is very good, the highlight no doubt is the hide and seek sequence with Tara and the monster, I couldn't help but grip the chair a little as I was constantly hoping Tara would find ways to evade and maintain stealth from the monster's sight. The monster doesn't disappoint, I really like the design it's really creepy looking from the blank white glowing eyes, gray skin, and hollow facial expression it reminded me of The Scream painting which may have been the partial inspiration for the design.
The two villains were solid, I like that there was some depth to them so their not totally two dimensional. And we see there sympathetic but only to an extent, it's not an excuse for what they've done. To me I feel they weren't saving their lost son but dooming his soul. However the worst part was that they've doomed their own souls, as we see their both not the same people they use to be in the past, those guys are gone.
However to me what really drive the episode are Tara and Johnny it's somewhat of a "Beauty and the Beast" dynamic (I said sort of). Johnny is a tragic character, despite being a mute throughout most of the tale you know exactly what he's saying through his expressions in emotion. This poor guy is anguished over the monster he's become and what he's been forced to do against his will.
I really like the character Tara whom is a sympathetic and also tragic character. Like most protagonists in Fairy Tales she's an underdog as she's obviously a outsider, we see from the beginning she doesn't really fit with the in crowd were most in the class look like they came out of a damn Macy's catalog. You get hints that she has been a target of bullies as well as a little hint of her home life in one scene where she calls her mom, the mom is complaining about her missing pills and not the least bit bothered that her child is missing; so we see her mom is a drug addict and doesn't care about Tara.
But what I really like about Tara is she's clearly a person that has a lot to offer the world, that has big dreams or at least a dream. From her sketch of a dragon and an amazon warrior riding that looks like it would be worthy to be up there with the fantasy art of Frank Rasetta. We then here in a conversation with Johnny that sketch is part of a fantasy book series she's trying to create, the story she proposes is ironic since she somewhat in the same predicament.
And strangely despite such a dire situation you really see in a way she gets more beautiful because her internal beauty comes out as she is exercising inner strength. From trying to survive, find a way out, but best of all exercising compassion and understanding for Johnny, being his rock. Even Johnny likewise does the same for her, as he is also doing what he can to save her life he seems to demonstrate more strength in character.
I really like how both interact which is sweet but you see through it both have formed a deep bond, yeah I know it's a short amount of time but in life and death situations characters shouldn't waste a minute. Both of them are outsiders in a way and have been hurt by forces from the outside, yet we see when both are together they are strong. Which makes it all the more tragic, I constantly hopping what happens won't but there's nothing I can do about it or they can which is what hurts the most.
However I wouldn't fret too much, because like in most of the Grimm's Fairy Tales there's sometimes a twist.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
This tale surprised me, this turned out to actually be one of my favorite tales for the show in my book.
It's a really twisted and dark urban brothers Grimm like tale which is cool because I love Grimms Fairy Tales most of them were really dark even scary which made this short true in it's tradition.
I like the use of the seedy basement locale, from how dark, dusty, decrepit it is it really has just this unsettling and claustrophobic sensibility. The suspense is very good, the highlight no doubt is the hide and seek sequence with Tara and the monster, I couldn't help but grip the chair a little as I was constantly hoping Tara would find ways to evade and maintain stealth from the monster's sight. The monster doesn't disappoint, I really like the design it's really creepy looking from the blank white glowing eyes, gray skin, and hollow facial expression it reminded me of The Scream painting which may have been the partial inspiration for the design.
The two villains were solid, I like that there was some depth to them so their not totally two dimensional. And we see there sympathetic but only to an extent, it's not an excuse for what they've done. To me I feel they weren't saving their lost son but dooming his soul. However the worst part was that they've doomed their own souls, as we see their both not the same people they use to be in the past, those guys are gone.
However to me what really drive the episode are Tara and Johnny it's somewhat of a "Beauty and the Beast" dynamic (I said sort of). Johnny is a tragic character, despite being a mute throughout most of the tale you know exactly what he's saying through his expressions in emotion. This poor guy is anguished over the monster he's become and what he's been forced to do against his will.
I really like the character Tara whom is a sympathetic and also tragic character. Like most protagonists in Fairy Tales she's an underdog as she's obviously a outsider, we see from the beginning she doesn't really fit with the in crowd were most in the class look like they came out of a damn Macy's catalog. You get hints that she has been a target of bullies as well as a little hint of her home life in one scene where she calls her mom, the mom is complaining about her missing pills and not the least bit bothered that her child is missing; so we see her mom is a drug addict and doesn't care about Tara.
But what I really like about Tara is she's clearly a person that has a lot to offer the world, that has big dreams or at least a dream. From her sketch of a dragon and an amazon warrior riding that looks like it would be worthy to be up there with the fantasy art of Frank Rasetta. We then here in a conversation with Johnny that sketch is part of a fantasy book series she's trying to create, the story she proposes is ironic since she somewhat in the same predicament.
And strangely despite such a dire situation you really see in a way she gets more beautiful because her internal beauty comes out as she is exercising inner strength. From trying to survive, find a way out, but best of all exercising compassion and understanding for Johnny, being his rock. Even Johnny likewise does the same for her, as he is also doing what he can to save her life he seems to demonstrate more strength in character.
I really like how both interact which is sweet but you see through it both have formed a deep bond, yeah I know it's a short amount of time but in life and death situations characters shouldn't waste a minute. Both of them are outsiders in a way and have been hurt by forces from the outside, yet we see when both are together they are strong. Which makes it all the more tragic, I constantly hopping what happens won't but there's nothing I can do about it or they can which is what hurts the most.
However I wouldn't fret too much, because like in most of the Grimm's Fairy Tales there's sometimes a twist.
Rating: 3 and a half stars
No good
cemetary_gates163 January 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Not worthy of any more than one star didn't like it never will and I can't see why anyone would enjoy this movie. anyone out there who hasn't seen it i recommend you do that way if you ever see another bad movie you can say "hey at least it wasn't as bad as the fair haired child" It's worse than that movie Darkness I saw with that girl who played rogue from x-men god that movie was almost as bad as this one. I'm hungry I think I'm gonna make a pizza. Shoot all out OK well Grilled cheese should do me. Ow silly me I'm still typing. Well ya so I spoke my mind and it's up to you the people if you want to listen to my negative criticism. Go on now.
One of the Best in The Series
OttoJg1422 April 2007
The other reviewer must have watched a different version than I did? Also the obvious bias against the director is more than obvious! Most people don't give a hoot, or will even know or care that the director did "Fear.Com!" Taken as an installment in the Masters of Horror series, I consider this to be one of the best! I watch every horror/sci-fi/fantasy flick that comes out and this episode actually had me scared! The use of early silent era (Nosferatu, etc.,) skip-frame technique (that jerky movement: every 5th-6th frame) really works here and lends a superb atmosphere of the 'supernatural' to the object in question! The other reviewer had issues with this director being called a "Master of Horror"? Look at the bulk of work by the other directors in this series!! Yikes! Not what I call a brilliant body of work!! That doesn't mean they can't make a good short feature! I think some of the other directors best works are part of this series! I saw it on cable first..then bought it! A must see!!!
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