The Nightcomers

What on earth is going on here? Oh yes, another winner from the director of the Death Wish franchise. Mind you, anyone watching Michael Winner’s recently released and much earlier effort, namely the brilliant West 11, might be baffled as though how such two very different beasts could be unleashed be the same director.

The Nightcomers is little more than a shambolic take on Henry James’ chilling gothic novella ‘The Turn Of The Screw’ as well as its various movie adaptations. In fact, this ‘prequel’ to James’ classic is an insult to the author if not much else. Whereas in the book and other adaptations the premise lies on two orphaned children called Miles and Flora gradually becoming possessed by the evil spirits of their former governess Miss Jessel and caretaker Peter Quint, Winner’s version suggests as to how Jessel and Quint came to meet their maker.

So, the orphaned Miles (Christopher Ellis) and Flora (Verna Harvey) are left in the care of apparently prim and proper governess Miss Jessel (a rather voluptuous Stephanie Beacham). The gardener (and former caretaker) Peter Quint is portrayed by Marlon Brando, mumbling his dialogue with a mock-Irish accent. Fortunately or unfortunately for all concerned this reprobate doesn’t ‘get the push’ and stays at the estate to weave his evil and malignant spell on all and sundry. That is to say this unkempt vulgar lout enjoys humiliating the masochistically inclined Miss Jessel by means of his sexually sadistic peccadillos - which in turn has a corrupting influence over the children who soon enjoy dabbling in some s/m bondage games… would you believe it! Young Miles even spies on his ‘role model’! Thora Hird almost stands out as housekeeper Mrs. Grose as she does actually succeed in giving some credibility to her character. Which is more than can be said about Christopher Ellis as young Master Miles – just compare his performance with that of Martin Stephens in The Innocents (1961) and you will see what I mean!
On an upbeat note (and they come few and far between) the film is atmospherically shot by veteran cinematographer Harry Waxman (Brighton Rock, The Wicker Man).

Just what the late Michael Winner was thinking and how he managed to persuade Brando to star in this charade is anyone’s guess. Henry James would spin in his grave!

This DVD/Blu-ray release, part of the ‘British Film Collection’, offers the following bonus material:

• Instant theatrical trailer
• Instant play facility