I remember reading this at school. I think it gets assigned as a school text a lot being about a class of creeps who harass a teacher who has taken over and the previous teacher has died. It was a radio play and you can imagine it being very effective on that medium and on television. It's a solid film too - it helps that the director was good, John Mackenzie, adding tension, and the cast deliver. David Hemmings' sad eyes and weak nature are effective - he was starting to chunk up around this time - and the kids are great. Actually all the cast work. Carolyn Seymour has the one female role of note.
The film doesn't quite land its ending. After the kids attack Seymour - an effective sequence - and then he goes to help them... sorry that doesn't work. I think maybe Seymour should've died accidentally. For Hemmings to hear about this and then go looking for Wittering... I struggled to buy that. He's really, really weak. Also the ending they just stumble upon Wittering. They could've done more action... something.
Still worth a look. Make a good double bill with Child's Play.
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