True horror never gets old. It may change shape or form with the times, and the exact execution may differ depending on when stories of its ilk are being told. However, no matter how the stories twist, when a particularly resilient idea gets into circulation, it’s hard to shake it.
First published as a serialized horror novella in 1898, author Henry James’ "The Turn of the Screw" is the perfect example of one such story. And as a story that’s existed for over a century in the literary lexicon, there have been quite a few adaptations that have already seen their way to television and movie theatres, with director Floria Sigismondi’s THE TURNING serving as the most recent interpretation of the goings on in Bly Manor.
In this new version, TERMINATOR: DARK FATE star Mackenzie Davis plays Kate, a nanny hired to look after young children Flora (Brooklynn Prince) and Miles (Finn Wolfhard). Living on a secluded estate that’s equal parts beautiful and creepy, the children seem to be a little unusual, with a deep, dark secret being kept between the brother and sister — one that could prove deadly to Kate, if she’s not careful.
While THE TURNING certainly has its supernatural elements, the film is also a psychological horror. The mind games played between Kate, Flora and Miles only turn up the tension, and the isolated country manor compounds the increasingly dreadful atmosphere that overtakes Henry James’ classic tale.
As mentioned before, this isn’t the first interpretation of "The Turn of the Screw," as films such as 1961’s THE INNOCENTS and 2006’s IN A DARK PLACE were direct adaptations of the classic source material. But THE TURNING is very much a contemporary affair — and one of the first horror films of 2020.
Don't miss a horrific moment of THE TURNING’s twisted tale. Get your tickets for the January 24 release.
