Details of the 2012 Cambridge Film Festival will appear here shortly

As veteran Warner Bros director Mervyn LeRoy (LITTLE CAESAR) found to his cost, the late 1950smay have been a little premature for a film about an eight year old serial killer! Adapted from the novel by William March, all-American mother, Christine (Kelly), cares for her daughter, Rhoda (McCormack), whilst her husband serves in the army. But little Rhoda with her pigtails and pretty dress doesn't take competition lying down. Soon enough classmate Claude is floating face down in the local lake and Christine is agonising over whether nature or nurture is to blame. The social horror! As creepy as it is kitschy, few horror films are so thoroughly resolved with a good spanking. And yes, before you ask, Nick Cave named his band after this film.

Selected by Festival Friend and filmmaker Bruce Weber

Print source: Warner Bros