The Nightcomers — The Nightcomers( UHD/ Blu Ray)
The Nightcomers is a mix of elegant period drama and uneasy psychological thriller- staring Malon Brando and Stephanie Beacham. The early 70’sBritish film blends a lush score, splendid costumes, and elegant countryside locations- with moments of physical & mental cruelty, sinister intentions, murder, and some rather troubling elements- which do sour the film somewhat, though this is a Michael Winner film, and his films have always been problematic. Here from Studiocanal’s Cult Classics is a new release of the film, coming as either a UHD or Blu-ray disc
The Nightcomers is from the year 1971- it was filmed in the Cambridgeshire countryside, with much of the picture taking place in Swanston Hall- a Tudor manor house.
It was the sixteenth film from Hampstead-born Michael Winter, who between the late 1950s and late 1990’s had forty-two directorial credits to his name. Some of his more notable features have been drama The Girl-Getters (1964), grim western Chato's Land (1972), genre-defining vigilante film Death Wish (1974), and supernatural horror film The Sentinel (1978)
The film is a prequel to Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw". It focuses on groundskeeper Peter Quint (Brando), and his steady corruption/ manipulation of governess Miss Jessel (Stephanie Beacham), and the two pre-teen children she looks after- Miles (Christopher Ellis) & Flora (Verna Harvey).
After the countryside-based, lush orchestrated credits, we are dropped down in Bly House, a large/ isolated country house. The decidedly stern and neatly bearded master of the house (Harry Andrews) has been left two children after a death in the family, but he has no intention of bringing them up. So he informs the rather pious and strict housekeeper, Mrs Grose(Thora Hird), that he will be moving back to London, leaving the bringing up of the children to the pair's governess Miss Jessel, and herself. Also on the estate is hard drinking/ wanting to be as little a possible handyman/ gardener, Quint.
Within the first few minutes, we get the first of the rather troubling/ unnecessary elements- these include forcing a cigar into a frog's mouth, and throwing a tortoise on its back. Look, I’m far from prude, but I’m afraid this type of animal cruelty is unneeded/unnecessary; there would have been many other ways to establish the character's cruelty without hurt/ alarming poor little creatures, and sadly, it rather soured the film from the off.
As the film unfolds, we see Quint's control/ manipulation of the governess and the pre-teens. He starts off by filling their heads with his skewed look at life, love, and death. Before moving into more physical manifestations of cruelty/danger, with the pre-teens it’s taking them to risky locations, and with Miss Jessel it’s brutal S & M control- as we see Ms Beacham stripped & tied up/ forced to have sex.
From the off, there is a seedy/ rather unpleasant air to the film that drifts under its grand period drama sheets, and this rather builds and builds as the film unfolds. With really only one decent/ sane character in the lot, Mrs Grose.
The film certainly had me held, as you really don’t know quite what depravity or wrongness will happen next. And it finishes with a rather bleak & eerier resolve.
All of the cast is good. Initially, I felt Brando's Irish accent was somewhat overdone- but in time, he seems to settle down, and I really can’t see anyone else playing the part of Quint. Beacham has a well-realised character arc, from prim and proper, to troubled and manhandled, to rather unhinged, with her nude/ sex scenes really pushing the envelope for British film of the 70’s. Ellis & Harvey are good as the pre-teen brother & sister, as they become more corrupted by Quint. But I’d say the real surprise highlight here is Ms Hird, as I grew up seeing her on either Last Of The Summer Wine, or being a preachy Christian on BBC TV programmes, I used to think she was a rather mediocre actress- but she is excellent in her role as the only moral/ decent character here.
On the whole/ aside from the animal cruelty, I’d say The Nightcomers is one of Michael Winner's better films, both in its cinematic artistry, the directing of the actors, and shifting/ building tension/unease of the whole thing.
Moving on to the extras on this release, the only new extra is Something Wicked (19.15), which finds genre critic/ writer Kim Newman discussing the film. He begins by talking about the origin of the story, which comes from a screenplay, later book by Michael Hastings. He talks about the original Henry James story, The Turn of the Screw, and how it does/ doesn’t link into the film. He touches on the cast and locations. We find out Brando was just on the cusp of mega stardom, as this was just before his performances in The Godfather & Last Tango In Paris. Vanessa Redgrave was originally going to play the role of Miss Jessel, though Newman says Beacham was great in the role. We find out the film did better stateside, but all round it did better than many horror films of the time. So, another great extra from Mr Newman
On the archive side, we have two commentary tracks- one from film historian Kat Ellinger, and one from film historian Alain Silver & Jim Ursin. Turn of the Camera (28.45) interviews with the production crew. Delicately Feminine: The Film Adaptations of Henry James’ ‘The Turn of The Screw’ (18.34) video essay by film historian Kat Ellinger. Theatrical trailer and teaser trailer. The finished release comes with four art cards.
The Nightcomers certainly managers it’s balance between elegant period drama and uneasy psychological thriller well, with the former slowly but surely engulfed by the latter. This new release presents us with a nice, clean and crisp scan, and a decent selection of new/archive.