Turn of the Screw
Turn of the Screw

Movie spotlight

Turn of the Screw

1985
Movie
119 min
Spanish

A young man is hired to take care of two orphaned siblings in a remote seaside mansion and soon realizes that someone... or something from the past is out to get the children.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Director: Graeme CliffordGenres: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

A young governess arrives at a remote estate to care for two orphaned children, Miles and Flora. As she attempts to instill discipline and proper behavior, she becomes increasingly convinced that the children are being haunted by malevolent ghosts. The governess's sanity is questioned as she struggles to distinguish between reality and delusion, and she fights to protect the children from the perceived supernatural influence.

Critical Reception

The 1985 television film adaptation of Henry James' novella 'The Turn of the Screw' received a mixed to positive reception, praised for its atmospheric tension and faithful interpretation of the source material's psychological horror. While some critics found it somewhat dated in its presentation, others lauded its chilling portrayal of ambiguity and psychological disintegration.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its eerie atmosphere and unsettling ambiguity.

  • Appreciated for its loyalty to the psychological complexities of the novella.

  • Some found the pacing deliberate, which could be seen as either a strength for building tension or a weakness for engagement.

Google audience: Audience reception for this specific 1985 adaptation is difficult to gauge through readily available aggregated reviews. However, discussions often center on its faithful adherence to the unsettling nature of Henry James' original story, with many appreciating its understated horror and psychological focus.

Fun Fact

This 1985 adaptation is one of many screen versions of Henry James' classic ghost story, 'The Turn of the Screw,' which remains a staple of gothic literature and has been interpreted in numerous films and television productions over the decades.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review