The Innocents
1961 Directed by Jack Clayton
Synopsis
Apparitions? Evils? Corruptions?
A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted.
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Forty-first film of my "31 Days of Horror"-project.
And the goods just keep on comin'.
The Innocents is a classic English ghost story. Taking place in the 1800's, it deals with ghosts, madness, two creepy children, one big, creepy house and the woman sent to care for it all.
The story is delightfully vague, leaving you to fill in the blanks of what you think really happened. Like the title of the story it's based on, The Innocents slowly turns the screw, dripping plot-points, unsettling stuff and atmosphere all throughout its running time.
It also features two of the creepiest children I've ever seen on film (seriously; their performance in this, ranging from "grown-up" to "creepy" to "delightful" is incredible to watch), as well as one of the creepiest nursery rhymes and most unsettling endings I have ever seen. Truly a fantastic film, whichever way you look at it.
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I was greatly surprised by how much The Innocents unnerved me at times, being that it was released in 1961. The eerie sound effects were done nicely, Deborah Kerr put on a great freaked-out-of-her-mind face, and the children displayed wonderful acting.
This is what more horror should be about today: prolonged, genuinely scary moments. At one point, a ghost behind a window floats closer, while an ambient, groaning sound is played. His face is covered in shadow. Kerr's character, Ms. Giddens, watches in horror, as he eventually and slowly sinks back into the darkness. I loved this scene. If the film were made today, however, it would've simply been replaced by the ghost suddenly slamming his face against the window,…
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correlatos objetivos aparte (palomas con el cuello roto, rosas blancas deshojándose, insectos saliendo de la boca de las esculturas), esta pinche película no me va a dejar dormir en toda la semana.
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It's at least 20 years since I read Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, on which this is based; either in my own relative innocence I missed a fair bit of subtext, or The Innocents has added some even darker implications.
It's beautifully shot, retaining the refinement of 1950's costume drama films, but less stagey and mannered as the humanism and realism of the New Waves kicks in to mainstream British film-making.
The Innocents is less gory than your average episode of Neighbours but nonetheless I was reminded of two of the reasons I basically don't like horror films.
1) For your entire adult life you train yourself that those noises in the night mean precisely nothing of import,…
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Brilliant camera work and editing, I must say. While I appreciate a film open to interpretation as much as the next person, the abrupt ending felt a bit out of place even though I knew it was going to end on such a note. It's really the only complaint I have and probably what is keeping me from giving The Innocents a full five stars.
Martin Stephens stole the show as Martin, I thought he was quite fantastic.
"What shall I sing to my lord from my window?
What shall I sing, for my lord will not stay?
What shall I sing, for my lord will not listen?
Where shall I go, for my lord is away?
Whom shall I… -
Some damn fine cinematography and sound effects serve to truly set this (possibly) haunted house film apart from others. It's fairly unnerving and sophisticated. I especially liked the extremely slow dissolves.
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super weird
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Wow, this was… disturbing. I am genuinely frightened now. It's much better than the book it is based on.
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correlatos objetivos aparte (palomas con el cuello roto, rosas blancas deshojándose, insectos saliendo de la boca de las esculturas), esta pinche película no me va a dejar dormir en toda la semana.
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What a great, creepy movie. A governess is sent to care for two children at an old mansion. Almost right off the bat, you get the vibe that something is off about the whole situation. Is she going crazy or is she actually seeing the things she thinks she is?
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Masterpiece
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The great cinematography (camerawork with some beautiful shots), lighting (good contrasts with the use of shadow and the dark), set (a big Victorian mansion with a nice garden), use of sound (very well enhanced) make the film very atmospheric and stylish.
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It took a while for me to get my hands on a copy of this movie as there were only 57 in Australia so I was told but anyway it finally arrived.
So in this spooky little film from 1961, Deborah Kerr is Miss Giddens, who is hired as the new governess of a large country mansion to care for the niece and nephew of a wealthy business man in London who does not wish to carry the burden of raising two children.
Things star off well enough, Miss Giddens likes the children and they very much like her but after a string of strange occurrences she begins to think the house may be haunted and feels that there is…
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There is nothing wrong with this film and it is better than almost every ghost horror released, so please don't let me rating turn you off watching it.
Truth be told I don't like ghost/haunted house horrors, never have, never will. I find them mostly boring and not at all frightening. It is my own fault, I'm so desensitized it takes something a really unique or special horror to scare the shit out of me (think The Shining or The Descent). Unlike slashers or gornos, ghost films have nothing fun to offer and are so dreary and boring that I just can't stand them.
As I said though, this is the upper echelon of ghost horrors and its reception is warranted. The lighting and sound effects are superb, as are the creepy children and the gorgeous cinematography.
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I was greatly surprised by how much The Innocents unnerved me at times, being that it was released in 1961. The eerie sound effects were done nicely, Deborah Kerr put on a great freaked-out-of-her-mind face, and the children displayed wonderful acting.
This is what more horror should be about today: prolonged, genuinely scary moments. At one point, a ghost behind a window floats closer, while an ambient, groaning sound is played. His face is covered in shadow. Kerr's character, Ms. Giddens, watches in horror, as he eventually and slowly sinks back into the darkness. I loved this scene. If the film were made today, however, it would've simply been replaced by the ghost suddenly slamming his face against the window,…