The Nightcomers

The Nightcomers

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1971
Founder	Michael Winner (director), Michael Hastings (screenwriter)
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Horror film

The Nightcomers is a 1971 British horror film directed by Michael Winner, featuring performances by Marlon Brando, Stephanie Beacham, Thora Hird, Harry Andrews, and Anna Palk. This movie acts as a prelude to Henry James' 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw, which had previously been adapted into the 1961 film The Innocents.

Plot

After becoming orphans, siblings Flora and Miles are placed under the supervision of Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper; Miss Jessel, the governess; and Peter Quint, a former valet who now works as the gardener at their secluded country estate. Quint enchants the children with his stories and knowledge, shaping their isolated upbringing. Meanwhile, Miss Jessel and Quint engage in a sadomasochistic relationship that captivates the children, who help conceal this liaison from Mrs. Grose’s disapproval.

The youngsters begin to mimic the violent tendencies of Quint and Jessel, leading to a dangerous incident where Flora nearly loses her life. When Mrs. Grose decides to alert the estate’s owner with the intent to dismiss Quint and Jessel, the children take drastic measures to prevent this. Embracing Quint’s belief that love is intertwined with hate and that true unity is only achieved through death, they cause Miss Jessel’s drowning by sabotaging her boat. Upon discovering her body, Miles fatally wounds Quint with a bow and arrow. The story concludes with the arrival of a new governess, presumably the one featured in The Turn of the Screw.

Cast

• Marlon Brando as Peter Quint
• Stephanie Beacham as Miss Jessel
• Thora Hird as Mrs. Grose
• Harry Andrews as Master of the house
• Verna Harvey as Flora
• Christopher Ellis as Miles
• Anna Palk as new governess

Differences from the book

In contrast to Henry James’ original work, the film portrays Flora and Miles as older children, aligning with its exploration of mature themes; notably, Verna Harvey was 19 years old during filming.

Production

Derived from an original screenplay by Michael Hastings, this adaptation delves into the preliminary events leading up to Turn of the Screw, aiming to develop "plausible" main characters infused with "strange eroticism." Marlon Brando’s involvement was confirmed in November 1970, with principal photography taking place during February and March 1971. The setting for the manor house is Sawston Hall, a Tudor-era estate dating back to the 16th century located in Cambridgeshire.

Release

The film debuted at the 32nd Venice International Film Festival on 30 August 1971.

Reception

Brando earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor, although his heavily exaggerated Irish accent attracted criticism. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a critics' approval rating of 57%.

Box office

Despite its commercial underperformance, director Michael Winner indicated that the film ultimately recouped its expenses, crediting its blend of sexual content and violence for attracting audiences alongside its intellectual aspirations.

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin observed that while The Nightcomers sought to portray events preceding Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, it fell short in execution. Although some humor emerged from character contrasts, the dialogue was deemed awkward and Marlon Brando’s depiction of Quint inconsistent. The direction by Michael Winner was identified as a significant weakness due to ineffective cinematography and insufficient suspense development that weakened what could have been a compelling narrative.

Critic Tom Milne described the production as "crass," criticizing Hastings’ script for unnatural dialogue. Similarly, Leonard Maltin attributed much of the film's failure to Winner’s "poor direction," which hindered its storytelling potential.

Several reviewers expressed disapproval over revealing backstory elements through this prequel approach, arguing it undermined the original novel’s intended ambiguity.