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After their daughter tells them about ‘naked games’ she played with an old man, two parents (Patrick Allen and Gwen Watford) take the old man to court. But they find themselves the unlikely target of the town’s scorn for trying to smear the name of the man’s rich and powerful family. Is their nine-year old daughter (Janina Faye) prepared for harrowing cross-examination and medical testing? Or is it better to let the pedophile walk free?
Never Take Candy from a Stranger is a unique endeavor for Britain’s Hammer Films, more known for their gothic horror films. This is a surprisingly grounded, serious exploration of a sordid topic — especially bold for a 1960 release. Director Cyril Frankel handles the material responsibly, never gratuitous or exploitive, but intrinsically creepy and upsetting. The acting is strong, featuring a respectable child performance from young Faye and a creepy, mute turn from Felix Aylmer as the old man. A lot of the script’s surprises are all up-front, but the courtroom trial makes for good drama, and the third act becomes a genuine thriller with a dark but satisfying ending.
With Bill Nagy, Michael Gwynn, Niall MacGinnis, and Alison Leggatt.