Review: What The Peeper Saw (1971)

What The Peeper Saw (1971)
Directed by: James Kelly
Starring: Britt Ekland, Hardy Krüger, Mark Lester,

Elise, the second wife of Paul, a well known author, begins to suspect that her 12 year old stepson Marcus murdered his mother, who is said to have passed away from a heart attack.

My Thoughts: The film has a Gialloesque Hitchcock like quality to it. We follow along with the story of Elise, a woman who is half the age of her husband. She deals with scrutiny from family friends as well as from her stepson. Elise cannot seem to get a straight answer from her husband Paul or stepson Marcus in regards to the death of Sarah, Paul's first wife.

It is also obvious Marcus is sexually interested in Elise and wants her for himself. He is intellectually mature for a twelve year old, and it is also clear that he is emotionally disturbed. The situation is so well crafted by Marcus, that practically everyone is eating out of his hands and taking his word over Elise.  At this rate it isn't long before Elise is hospitalized. By the end both stepmother and stepson seem to have reached an understanding, and then the double cross.

I've always preferred older films regardless of genre and I really did enjoy the Hitchcock like feel to this film. Granted it is obvious who was responsible for the death of Sarah, but the real journey is not in the how or why, but rather what happens afterward.