Interesting idea - a prequel to the events in Turn of the Screw - which is logically developed. It's a simple story with complexity and the casting of the adults can't be faulted - Marlon Brando, Stephanie Beacham, Thora Hird.
Michael Winner wasn't up to the demands of directing it. His great strengths as a director were energy, pace and location shooting - this is a character driven piece, which needed atmosphere. Someone like Seth Holt or Freddie Francis, who did those excellent psycho thrillers for Hammer and Amicus would have been ideal. Winner is not up to it. That isn't a Winner bash, it's an honest opinion.
He lets Marlon Brando clearly do what he wants including a silly accent and endless scenes of him telling dumb stories which the kids are meant to find entertaining. There's a sado masochistic sex scene with Beacham which is unsettling because Becham clearly isn't into it. This is clearly an abusive relationship with all the complexities that involves but Winner can't pull it off.
The kid actors aren't good - I don't think Winner was strong with them either. Still, it is interesting, it tries, it's different. Beacham is gorgeous. Even when Brando is bad he's still compelling.
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