Search - The Turn of the Screw on DVD

A Dissenting Point of View

Paul Kesler | Bridgeport, PA United States | 08/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Though I appear to be a minority, I'd like to praise this version of "The Turn of the Screw," not because I think it's an improvement over the 1961 film version, "The Innocents," but because I think it succeeds in the context of its own particular medium: videotape. True, this rendering of Henry James is not "cinematic" in the usual sense, but the very nature of videotape precludes the stylistic approach of celluloid. What this version lacks in the verisimilitude of exterior settings, it more than compensates for in terms of intimacy of atmosphere (the main virtue of videotaped productions), so that I encountered a mood of claustrophobia lacking in theatrical versions. In fact, this "Turn of the Screw," like Dan Curtis's 1968 version of "Jekyll and Hyde" (and like the BBC videotape of "Count Dracula") carries much of the directness of on-stage drama: precisely because of its technical lack of "polish," it draws the viewer into a more authentic sense of involvement. As for the acting, here, too, I have to partially differ, since I feel Lynn Redgrave gave a fine and measured performance (not over-the-top, as some reviews have stated). If I had any quarrel with the acting, it was with Jasper Jacob as "Miles," because the actor looked 4 or 5 years too old for the role. Still, his performance was passable, and as for Eva Griffith, her "Flora" was superb; Griffith's face, moreover, has remarkable sensuality for a child actress, which makes the gradual onset of libertine possession all the more believable. In short, this is one of my favorite adaptations of a famous horror novel which, whatever its flaws, is one I'd love to have on DVD."

Better than the rest

Julia Heck | Sheboygan, Wisconsin United States | 09/13/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Despite a few nay sayers out there,this video was pretty darn good. It may not have a polished look,but then again,it was made for television. Within that contects,this version thrives like a vegetable in the rain. The sets are good as well as the acting,effects,and the frightning score by Robert Corbert."

Turn of the Screw and Its setting elements

Alec Austin | USA | 12/10/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The majority of the feature takes place in the countryside near Essex, in Great Britain. The haunted grounds of Bligh House give one the idea of mystery. The setting enhances the mood of the story and also provides for the development of each character's fear and personality. There are several forbidden places within the foreboding Bligh House. Many sealed rooms, uneeded for living, are the origin of unnatural voices in the night. The rooftop is also a place of mystery. An ancient clock tower guards secrets of past inhabitants. The large, empty house is the perfect setting for an encounter with the dead. It reinforces the aura of evil. These places, coupled with nighttime and stormy weather greatly add to feelings experienced by the viewers. The strength of setting is one of only a few above average points of this film."

A review for The Turn of the Screw

Heidi Quaerna | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States | 12/08/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The Turn of the Screw is not a movie I would recommend renting on a Friday night. The monotonous scenes will put you to sleep. The same events keep reoccuring. Jane Cubberly sees the spirits of Miss Jessel and her evil lover, Peter Quint. She accuses Flora of seeing Miss Jessel, but she would always deny it. That goes on throughout the entire movie. You will also be annoyed with the generic music. Every time something bad was about to happen, you would hear a clamor of xylophone chords. The camera work also seemed very juvenile. Almost like a high-school student filmed it. There is a scene where Jane Cubberly is on a carriage with Luke. They are supposed to be moving, but it is plain to see there is a fake background and you can hear the poorly made sounds of horses galloping. I think this book should never have been made into a movie. It just seemed to ruin the book."