Falconeer It is difficult to describe the visual beauty of Rusty Lemorande's version of the Henry James novel, 'Turn of the Screw'. Here is a film for people who can appreciate the aesthetic beauty of Gothic cinema. The lovely Patsy Kensit is Jenny, a sexually repressed young woman, who travels to Blye House to care for two very strange, sinister young children. The setting is gorgeous, with almost fetishistic attention being paid to every tiny detail. The clothes, the furnishings, the cars, even the beautiful antique toys are constantly on display here, in a dizzying display of hypnotic beauty. Jenny is tormented by the spirits of the dead, the children's former Nanny, and her mysterious lover. It seems like the children, especially the boy, Miles, have been somehow corrupted by these two. And this version of the story makes it obvious that the 'corruption' is of a sexual nature. Whenever children are sexualized, it adds a truly disturbing level to the goings on. Here we have an utterly bizarre, Gothic/erotic film that has been underrated by critics. Perhaps the subject matter makes some uncomfortable, but true horror should make one feel a bit uneasy. Filled with heavy handed sexual imagery, this is the only film version I know of where the child actors they used were the correct age. And the kids who played little Flora and Miles are superbly pale and haunted looking. Patsy Kensit is fine as the deeply religious Nanny battling her own inner demons as well as the demons of Blye House. Her delicate beauty makes her more of a sympathetic character. Even the music works for this one, haunting music box melodies to compliment the surreal and sometimes breathtaking imagery. The film possesses an undeniable elegance, moving along at a leisurely pace, drawing the viewer in with hypnotic visuals and a classic ghost story. While watching 'Turn of the Screw' I was repeatedly reminded of Mario Bava's masterpiece, "Lisa and the Devil". There is also a bit of "Suspiria" here, but it's similarities to "Lisa" are extreme. The setting; the beautiful house filled with erotic perversion and doomed, illicit romance, the camera angles, the gorgeous attention to detail. I highly recommend 'Turn of the Screw' to fans of Argento and Bava, and other prolific Italian horror directors of the 1970's. I hope someday that this bizarre masterpiece will find it's audience, and get the recognition it deserves.

the_ache Some people who have read James' novella might be off-put by the changes made here: the change of setting, the change of narrator. However, I find that this adaptation is the most faithful to the source of any I have seen. It conveys the mood, the nature of the spectres, and the bewilderment of the novella extremely well. If you want a grey, word-perfect recitation of the story, you can find it elsewhere, but this captures the nature of the torment better than any other.I do not recommend it for everyone, however, since you have to leave your expectations at the door.

HumanoidOfFlesh I was very pleasantly surprised with this adaptation of Henry James novel.It reminds me a little bit Dario Argento's "Suspiria"(1977).Why? Because it's full of wonderful visuals and creepy atmosphere.Some scenes are really chilling without relaying on gore.The acting is pretty good,and Patsy Kensit is really keen on eyes.She is such a beautiful woman!Kudos go also to Rusty Lemonrade-great directing job Rusty,I'm your fan!So if you're in the mood for creepy ghost story don't hesitate to watch it.Recommended!

JWP If you are thinking of seeing this movie because you liked the story by Henry James, don't bother. The film-makers took every iota of subtlety out of the story and ended up with an overly obvious portrayal of a sexually repressed naive catholic governess' descent into madness. The spirit of the short novel has been abandoned and only a general adherence to the plot is left. Follow the link to external reviews for a more detailed analysis.