What the Peeper Saw (1972), also known as Night Hair Child, is a British-Italian psychological thriller directed by James Kelley. The film stars Mark Lester, Britt Ekland, and Hardy Krüger in a disturbing and unsettling story that blends family drama with chilling suspense.
The plot centers on Elise (Britt Ekland), a young woman who marries Paul (Hardy Krüger), a wealthy author. She soon becomes stepmother to his 12-year-old son, Marcus (Mark Lester), who is brilliant but unnervingly cold and manipulative. As Elise settles into her new role, she begins to suspect Marcus of harboring dark secrets—possibly even being involved in his mother’s mysterious death. What follows is a tense battle of wits, as Elise struggles to determine whether Marcus is simply a troubled child or a calculating sociopath.
The film thrives on its eerie atmosphere and psychological tension rather than graphic violence. Lester’s unsettling performance as Marcus is central to the film’s effectiveness, creating a sense of unease that lingers throughout. While the pacing is deliberate, it mirrors the slow unraveling of Elise’s sanity as paranoia sets in.
What the Peeper Saw remains a haunting, underappreciated thriller that explores manipulation, innocence corrupted, and the blurred line between victim and predator.
