THE HORRORS OF HAYLEY MILLS
As the frisky and adorable preteen in classic Disney romps such as The Parent Trap and Pollyanna, Hayley Mills’ blonde wide-eyed sweetness pegged her as an eternally innocent naif. However, Hayley’s yearnings to break free of her squeaky clean image resulted in marriage to a film director 33 years her senior and a brush into the darker underbelly of filmmaking… such as…
– Deadly Strangers (1974)–In this film, beginning with a dead asylum nurse and a psychopathic killer on the loose, Hayley plays Belle, a hitchhiking cutie who befriends an alcoholic salesman in a diner. Guilt volleys between these highly suspicious characters as their misadventures eventually cause a fatal run-in with a local bike gang, sending the duo on the lam. With the police hot on their tail, the question remains: Who is the true killer? With Deadly Strangers, Hayley reaches her adult apex: smoking, skimpy lingerie, and delicious softcore nude scenes.
– Endless Night (1971)–Poor chauffer Michael and fortune heiress Ellie (Mills) play lovestruck newleyweds in a union that, according to the spooky music, is certainly headed for doom. Endless Night features a host of terrifying characters, including a possessed Siamese cat, a haunted parcel of land, a psychic elderly neighbor, and an unsupportive cast of in-laws. Which of these suspects will cause pale Ellie’s downfall, and her ultimate return as the sexy ghost in the white nightgown? The mod stylings and slow suspense highlight Hayley as the attractive and awkward star of this Agatha Christie thriller.
– Twisted Nerve (1968)–Martin, a mentally ill murderer, becomes obsessed with sweet librarian Susan (Mills), gaining her trust by imitating an innocent simpleton. Playing the ‘tard card, Martin draws closer to his obsession by moving into her mother’s boarding house. While Susan investigates Martin’s increasingly curious behavior, Mom develops romantic feelings for the man-boy, which are cut short–by an axe. Susan is understandably bummed when she returns to a rape attempt and a trail of blood. JEN DAVISON