Review - Masters of Horror: Fair Haired Child
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Yes, I would have to say that after watching this episode of Masters of Horror entitled Fair Haired Child I would, in fact, beware that child with fair hair . . .
This episode grabs you right from the beginning as you meet Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher) in her high school math class. Though she looks more like a twenty something than a teenager she plays the part pretty well. You realize right off the bat that she is shy and quite unpopular which makes her the perfect target for Anton (William Samples) and his wife Judith (Lori Petty) to use in their yearly ritual to save the life of their only son. They feel that Tara being the 12th (and final) victim of this yearly sacrifice they have had to endure to continue to bring back their son from the dead is reason to celebrate - but are they mistaken?
Once captured, Tara is thrust into the basement with another young boy Johnny (Jesse Hadock) who she frees from a noose. As the night progresses, the two try and find a way out but instead begin to realize that the bond they have formed is unbreakable and quite endearing - and there is no way out. Even as Johnny dies and is replaced by a freaky looking demon creature forced to do unspeakable things to Tara, she forgives him for what he undoubtedly has to do. As the celebration begins upstairs welcoming Johnny back from his yearly death, the tables are turned as Johnny it seems is an even better negotiator than his parents.
This was a great episode of Masters of Horror directed by William Malone of FeardotCom and House on Haunted Hill (1999) fame. Even though Lindsay Pulsipher and Jesse Hadock didn’t really pass for teenagers, their performances worked. I absolutely loved Lori Petty playing the mother pushed into the realm of evil by the grief of losing her beloved Fair Haired Child. And William Samples played a guilt ridden father pushed into evil by his grief stricken wife superbly.
All in all not my favorite episode, but still very, very good.
Directed by
Dario Argento (episode 1.04 "Jenifer")
John Carpenter (episode 1.08 "Cigarette Burns")
Larry Cohen (episode 1.09 "Pick Me Up")
Don Coscarelli (episode 1.01 "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road")
Joe Dante (episode 1.06 "Homecoming")
Mick Garris (episode 1.05 "Chocolate")
Stuart Gordon (episode 1.02 "H.P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House")
Tobe Hooper (episode 1.03 "Dance of the Dead")
John Landis (episode 1.07 "Deer Woman")
William Malone (episode 1.12 "Fair Haired Child")
Lucky McKee (episode 1.11 "Sick Girl")
John McNaughton (episode 1.13 "Haeckel's Tale")
Takashi Miike (episode 1.10 "Imprint")
Writing credits:
Mick Garris (creator)
Don Coscarelli (episode 1.01 "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road") teleplay &
Stephen Romano (episode 1.01 "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road") teleplay and
Joe R. Lansdale (episode 1.01 "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road") short story
Dennis Paoli (episode 1.02 "H.P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House") teleplay &
Stuart Gordon (episode 1.02 "H.P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House") teleplay and
H.P. Lovecraft (episode 1.02 "H.P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witch-House") short story
Richard Christian Matheson (episode 1.03 "Dance of the Dead") teleplay and
Richard Matheson (episode 1.03 "Dance of the Dead") short story
Steven Weber (episode 1.04 "Jenifer") teleplay and
Bruce Jones (episode 1.04 "Jenifer") short story
Mick Garris (episode 1.05 "Chocolate") teleplay and
Mick Garris (episode 1.05 "Chocolate") short story
Sam Hamm (teleplay) (episode 1.06 "Homecoming")
Max Landis (writer) (episode 1.07 "Deer Woman") &
John Landis (writer) (episode 1.07 "Deer Woman")
Drew McWeeny (writer) (episode 1.08 "John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns") &
Scott Swan (writer) (episode 1.08 "John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns")
Clive Barker story (episode "Haeckel's Tale")
Matt Greenberg writer (episode "Fair Haired Boy")
Sean Hood writer (episode "Sick Girl")
Shimako Iwai story (episode "Imprint")
David J. Schow writer (episode "Pick Me Up")
Daisuke Tengan writer (episode "Imprint")
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Angela Bettis .... Ida Teeter
Billy Drago
Carrie Fleming .... Jenifer
Chris Gauthier .... Timpson
Jesse Haddock .... Johnny
Jesse Hlubik .... Max Grubb
Warren Kole .... Walker
Laurene Landon .... Birdie
Zara Taylor .... Annie
