Smoreni Zmaj "The Fair Haired Child" is more morbid drama than horror. Here, gore and shockers are put aside to make way to parental love and madness caused by the loss of a child, social anxiety and loneliness, an inner struggle between the urge for survival and love for the other, and romance that is often found where we least expect it. All packed in a sick story about the bloody pact that a married couple makes with a demon in order to revive the dead son. Under the baton of the "weakest" director of the first season, one of the better episodes was created and probably his best film. I especially like the unusual choice of the ending, because it is essentially happy ending, which is very unusual for this genre.8/10

trashgang This episode is carried by Lori Petty (Judith). Her skinny body and her performance gave her indeed the scary and strange looking mother. And The Fair Haired Child even had a great start with the abducting of Tara (Lindsay Pulsipher). That part really looked creepy and the van hitting her bicycle was really well done. Once Tara is being locked up in the cellar we do have some creeping moments with the creature walking around but the end of this episode was so predictable and laughable that my vote went downhill.Tara being an outcast virgin at school and having no friends is the ideal person to disappear. Once kidnapped Tara is questioned by Judith to be sure she's a virgin. That part is creepy only by the characterisation done by Lori. Once locked in the basement she comes across Johnny (Jesse Haddock) who has a dark secret but also tells Tara that the son of the couple abducting her lost their son in a lake drowning but the made a pact with the devil to arise him by sacrificing 12 youngsters. Tara being the last one I thought that I knew where this was going and I was correct. The last 5 minutes I just couldn't believe they wrote it that way and was a let down for me. The Fair Haired Child surely had potential but failed somehow towards the end. Gore 1/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 3/5 Story 3/5 Comedy 0/5

DVD_Connoisseur William Malone isn't an obvious choice for "Masters of Horror". His big-screen efforts have been hit-and-miss efforts at best. However, as co-creator of the series, it was an obvious move for him to have a shot at directing an episode."The Fair-Haired Child" is a surprisingly good instalment, although it's far from being the best tale. Malone creates a suitably creepy and dark atmosphere for the proceedings. Great acting from the cast and truly hair-raising effects result in a gripping episode. Walter ("Dr. Satan") Phelan plays a nightmare character and one that will remain in the viewer's memory for a long time.It's always great to see Lori Petty and in this "Masters of Horror" story she delivers a memorably sinister performance as Judith. William Samples is excellent as her on-the-edge husband and "partner-in-crime".It's the young cast members who really carry this piece, though. Lindsay Pulsipher plays the loner, Tara, who is kidnapped and thrown into the basement from hell. Jesse Haddock plays the mysterious Johnny whose fate is soon to become linked with that of fellow prisoner Tara.Recommended viewing. A strong 7 out of 10.

Chicky5150 William Malone's credentials have been questioned because of his inclusion into the Masters of Horror roster. Ironically, he turns out the best episode yet. The story is very focused, a young, misanthropic girl is kidnapped by the owners of a new abandoned school for music. Information is taken from her, and she is unceremoniously (pardon the pun) dumped into the basement with a mute teenager.She is the victim of a ceremony, a pact made with dark forces to resurrect the deceased young man in the basement if thirteen other young, health, virgin lives are snuffed out. The twist is that the son transforms into a carnivorous creature that must consume the victims. And he remembers every kill.Malone has bested everyone else so far. His script has mild twists, but is clear (as opposed to Mr. Carpenter's episode), lean and packs a punch. There is a scene towards the end that is pure horror (not comic horror, re: Landis), something sorely lacking from the series so far. There is no reliance on gore effects, which most directors (re: Argento)have chosen to do. There is no letdown at the end, like the one that marred the otherwise brilliant Miike episode.There are little nuances that are worth watching. The husband (Anton) seems to be a man at the brink of a nervous breakdown, or perhaps recovering from one. His dialogue is abstract in a good way, and he is neither a stock character nor an unrealistic one. The creature played by Walter Phelan, is unique looking, yet still disturbing. He is shot using an under-cranked camera, an Asian horror movie trick that is used nicely, and the sound effects create a very effective chattering for the beast. It is only on screen for a couple of minutes, but that is the pattern of all great horror films.Malone is improving with each project. Maybe we'll forgive him for FeardotCom eventually.