Call yourself a lover of psychological suspense? Ghost stories? Don't get caught with your geek around your knees. The Innocents is a film no self-respecting horror fan should miss. If you've never heard of it don't feel bad but prepare for this film to assume it's rightful place in the horror pantheon now that it has become widely available.
THE INNOCENTS
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Halloween is coming and so is a whole carload of classic horror films on DVD. Simply put The Innocents is one of the few films that should be mentioned in the same breath as Robert Wise' The Haunting or Curse of the Demon. Never heard of those either? I envy you. But start here. It's just out on DVD and will rock your world hard if you are lover of great film.
Generally regarded as the very best of many, many adaptations of Henry James The Turn of the Screw The Innocents was previously only available in a pan and scan video format that ruined it's complex and evocative shot compositions. It's easy availability in the original aspect ratio would be a great gift to horror movie fans anytime but leading into Halloween? There isn't to my mind a more important classic horror film being released between now and October 31 nor one which will do you a better job of getting ready for a spookathon.
Deborah Kerr plays Miss Giddens who takes a job as governess to two orphaned children. But what looks to be an idyllic assignment suddenly shifts towards the shadows. Are the children who they appear to be? Soon Miss Giddens is fighting for her sanity amongst ghostly visitations, the children's unpredictable behavior, and the past history of the house, which reveals itself one awful secret at a time.
Ghost story? Tale of Madness? Every director puts their own directional stamp on the piece and I won't divulge Jack Clayton's here. But seldom has a work been as intelligently and provocatively brought from one medium to another.
Director Jack Clayton had a short career but it was one marked by greatness Besides The Innocents he also helmed Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Great Gatsby, Room at the Top and breathtaking television fare like Memento Mori (1972). Director of Photography Freddie Francis is a living legend having lensed The Straight Story, Glory, The Elephant Man, The French Lieutenants Woman and a host of popular horror genre films including several for Hammer. His work here is impossible to over praise. Shot after breathtakingly composed shot appears putting absolute shame to what we call horror films nowadays. There isn't an aspect of this production Clayton and Francis ignore demonstrating an uncanny knack for putting the camera right where it will have the most impact, sets, actors, an expression here, a statue; everything is framed with a breathtaking grace.
To offer no extras seems a crime but I'll settle for the gorgeous transfer and original anamorphic aspect ratio. Thanks Fox.