Easily one of the greatest ghost films of all time.
Terrific B&W Cinemascope cinematography (mumps notwithstanding), wonderful use of sound and music, and some of the creepiest ambiance ever to grace the screen.
Completely unnerving. It starts slow, but give it time and its haunting atmosphere will creep into your bones, and really scare you. It's been a while since I've seen a horror film this good.
Deborah Kerr is once again cast as a governess in The Innocents, but this haunted house movie based on James' The Turn of the Screw gives her a very different role to play. As the charming but puritanical daughter of a minister, her finding something sinister in the playful behavior of the children in her charge should seem suspect, and yet, told from her perspective though it may be, there really is something disturbing going on. The ambiguity is merely an extra layer to a creepy tale of possession that works even on that surface level. Director Jack Clayton is on par with Hitchcock and Welles in his image-making. The lighting, the music, the production design, the choice of shots, the acting (even by the juvenile actors), everything works to sell the idea that Kerr would fall in love with these kids, then have reason to fear for their souls.
A masterful piece of deceive, the puritan projection of the governess in a repressed society sees evil even in the innocent children. We look at then with her eyes. Classical psychoanalytical interpretation of the Henry James Novel.
It was an ok film for its time! No special effects back then just a building atmosphere. Does not compare to a modern day thriller or the likes of a Hitchcock movie. Most people will find it too slow and not very gripping which is what you ideally want from a thriller!
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PaulThrussell
Easily one of the greatest ghost films of all time.Terrific B&W Cinemascope cinematography (mumps notwithstanding), wonderful use of sound and music, and some of the creepiest ambiance ever to grace the screen.
Jumping Elephant
Completely unnerving. It starts slow, but give it time and its haunting atmosphere will creep into your bones, and really scare you. It's been a while since I've seen a horror film this good.Siskoid
Deborah Kerr is once again cast as a governess in The Innocents, but this haunted house movie based on James' The Turn of the Screw gives her a very different role to play. As the charming but puritanical daughter of a minister, her finding something sinister in the playful behavior of the children in her charge should seem suspect, and yet, told from her perspective though it may be, there really is something disturbing going on. The ambiguity is merely an extra layer to a creepy tale of possession that works even on that surface level. Director Jack Clayton is on par with Hitchcock and Welles in his image-making. The lighting, the music, the production design, the choice of shots, the acting (even by the juvenile actors), everything works to sell the idea that Kerr would fall in love with these kids, then have reason to fear for their souls.elcid
A masterful piece of deceive, the puritan projection of the governess in a repressed society sees evil even in the innocent children. We look at then with her eyes. Classical psychoanalytical interpretation of the Henry James Novel.Dieguito
The movie is good but I hate spooky children..George Bailey
It takes alot to disturb me. This film is one of the few things that did.mightysparks
But alots are so cute George Bailey, how can they disturb you?Irial
I enjoyed this movie. Good one :) loved the acting. Some stuff in the plot didn't make too much sense, but it was good nevertheless.rhitwick
Great...Aissi
Brilliant.So very, very creepy !
Shazaaaam
So creepy.mook
Classic British Horror that builds a very creepy atmosphere via black & white images, subtle sounds & editing. 9/10.Follow me on Twitter @LastFilmSeen
daisymay
It was an ok film for its time! No special effects back then just a building atmosphere. Does not compare to a modern day thriller or the likes of a Hitchcock movie. Most people will find it too slow and not very gripping which is what you ideally want from a thriller!dslick
cool[img][/img]george4mon
hated it!Showing items 1 – 15 of 17