Marian Ives (Joyce Howard) and her friend, Doris (Tucker McGuire) are teachers at the Carne House Secondary School for Girls. Marian is a quiet reserved woman, and Doris is more interested in men, is more outgoing and a little pushy. About a year ago, their co-worker, Evelyn, disappeared while she was on vacation on the Yorkshire Moors. Marian convinces Doris to take their annual holiday in Yorkshire. Marian also wants to be close to the last place Evelyn had been seen to honor her friend.
On the train they meet Dr. Barry Randall (John Fernald). Barry is interested in Marian and strikes up a friendship with her, keeping her entertained all the way to Yorkshire. He then gives them a ride to the moors. While Marian and Doris are hiking on the moors, a horrible storm comes up and the girls get soaked and lost.
In the distance they see a house and a man in front of it. The man is Stephen Deremid (James Mason). He gives them refuge. The storm causes the moors to flood, so the women are stuck until the waters recede. Doris catches a cold from the moors and spends most of her time in bed. Stephen is a dark and brooding man. Over a few days Marian finds herself falling in love with the mysterious hermit. Stephen, in turn, is falling in love with Marian but his service during the war has left him with a form of PTSD. Also in the house are Stephen’s servants, Mrs. Ranger (Mary Clare) and Jim Sturrock (Wilfrid Lawson). All of them seem to harbor a dark secret that they are reluctant to discuss with Marian.
Odd things begin to happen. Marian finds out that Evelyn had been at the house before she disappeared. At times Stephen and the servants act secretive. When a full moon occurs, Stephen begins to act strangely. He is found outside holding a dead animal. Its neck broken. Marian is beginning to feel that perhaps Stephen is responsible for the death of her friend. Conversations with Mrs. Ranger give Marian the impression that there is something wrong with Stephen and Marian starts to feel that she may be in danger from the man she is in love with.
“The Night Has Eyes” AKA “Terror House” in the U.S. AKA “Moonlight Madness” was released in 1942 and was directed by Leslie Arliss. The film was re-released in 1949 as “Moonlight Madness”. It is a British film noir thriller. The film was based on the 1939 novel by Alan Kennington.
At times it’s a sappy gothic melodrama and at times is plays more like a horror movie with some old dark house elements tucked in there. The visuals are dark and creepy. The shrouded fog and twisted trees on the moors add tension and eeriness. The pace is a little slow, but it heats up toward the end.
Sometimes there is a kitchen sink feel to the plot. You have a tortured soul who on the full moon creeps around like he’s waiting to turn into a werewolf. Then you have a secret room and a skeleton in a strange mansion on the moors. Add to that some really good acting and you have an interesting little film. Sort of like “Hound of the Baskervilles” meets “Wuthering Heights” meets “The Wolfman”. It’s a very interesting combination.