June 1, 2008
This is a brilliant, moving, frightening, disturbing movie based on Henry James's horrible novella The Turn of the Screw. The point of the Henry James story is that the governess is going mad, and subconsciously invents all the ghostly appearances and the supposed possession of the children in order to get the attention of their guardian, with whom she is in love.
The movie is much less clearcut and infinitely superior to James's condescending and sneery tale. You are kept guessing what is really going on throughout the frightening escalation of supernatural events; the children are creepily wonderful, and it is perfectly easy to believe them truly malevolent. Deborah Kerr was never better than in this movie, the true highlight of her career. The production - shot in black and white and without any special effects - creates an effective, atmospheric ghost story whose progress and ending is pleasingly ambiguous.
Because you see everything from the heroine's point of view, and she appears perfectly sane for most of the movie, the climax comes as huge shock. A great classic and I would love to see it on the big screen.
The movie is much less clearcut and infinitely superior to James's condescending and sneery tale. You are kept guessing what is really going on throughout the frightening escalation of supernatural events; the children are creepily wonderful, and it is perfectly easy to believe them truly malevolent. Deborah Kerr was never better than in this movie, the true highlight of her career. The production - shot in black and white and without any special effects - creates an effective, atmospheric ghost story whose progress and ending is pleasingly ambiguous.
Because you see everything from the heroine's point of view, and she appears perfectly sane for most of the movie, the climax comes as huge shock. A great classic and I would love to see it on the big screen.