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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!

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.

I have never had the pleasure of reading the story or seeing the previous film adaptions from which this movie is based on which probably explains why I liked this film so much. Anyway, the story is about a nanny (Patsy Kensit) who takes charge of a household for a strange man (Julian Sands- in a brief cameo appearance) and his even stranger children who seem troubled by some unknown terror. This is a frightening film with a slow pace that actually works in favor of the film. As a result of the slow pace the terror is allowed to slowly build up to a terrifying climax. Kensit does a respectable job in the lead role.

Rated R; Nudity & Sexual Situations.

...but not too good. The story starts with a weak narration in present times, telling a story... Then we flash back to the 1960s and some crazy scenery. The acting in this film is not the best; in fact, the best performances are by the children, who are the most believable characters in the film.

This certainly isn't the best adaptation of the novel, but also not the worst.

If you know Henry James' novel and if you know Jack Clayton's first-rate adaptation of this subtle psychological subject, beware this poor adaptation from Rusty Lemorande. No tension at all and Patsy Kensit really is no Deborah Kerr.