Presence of Mind

Little seen 1999 Spanish-American version of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw. Stars Sadie Frost, Lauren Bacall, and Harvey Keitel (Antoni Aloy was a first time director - not sure how he managed to assemble such a cast for this very low-budget (around $3 million) production). The location is transferred to a small Spanish island estate, but the story is essentially the same. Bacall easily dominates in the acting. Keitel is good but is actually seen very little. Frost is okay; in fact I've always had a bit of a thing for her, but her attractiveness distracted me from seeing her as an uptight, repressed governess (Deborah Kerr in Jack Clayton's 1961 version The Innocents was spot-on). The child actors (Ella Jones and Nilo Mur) are good, and the ghost sightings are fairly creepy, but the sense of tension could be stronger. It's competent, but nothing outstanding. 6/10.

I had the privilege to watch the world premiere screening of this film at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. It is a visually stunning film that draws you in from the very beginning. This first-time director from Mallorca, Spain, was fortunate to have two powerful actors in his film - Harvey Keitel and Lauren Bacall - and used them both superbly. Bacall's performance was the most impressive as well as the rich costumes and set designs. Nilo Mur, in the role of Miles, was the surprise enchantment of the film. Don't miss it!

This is an American/Spanish movie adaptation of the classic Victorian ghost story "The Turn of the Screw." I would urge anyone to seek out the wonderful "The Innocents" (1961) version instead of this poor effort. Sadie Frost plays a young governess hired by a rather creepy uncle (Harvey Keitel), referred to as The Master, to care for his orphaned nephew Miles and niece Flora, two young children that live in a large old Spanish villa. The house is haunted by two former employees. The film started off quite disturbingly by featuring the real life bizarre Victorian practice of posing a dressed corpse next to family members in order to be photographed. I watched this on Talking Pictures TV (UK), they rated it 18 but apart from one brief scene of nudity and the suggestion of incest between Miles and his sister I found the film to be rather limp. The scenes showing the two ghosts - one male, one female - were poorly staged and not in the least bit scary. I didn't think much of Sadie Frost's performance, I was pleasantly surprised when she briefly stripped off naked in front of a long mirror though. As far Harvey Keitel, he is only in the film for a few minutes at the start. Look out for the crew member wearing denim jeans next to a horse, he's even looking at the camera! One of the few positives for me was the filming location at the Raixa Estate on the Spanish island of Mallorca, an impressive old house with nice palm fringed gardens. Despite a fairly promising the start the film soon goes downhill and ends disappointingly. There have been several film and TV adaptations of this story, this being the worst that I have seen to date. Watch The Innocents (1961) instead!

This known story deals with a governess played by Sadie Frost, who is assigned to care at a far mansion two children named Miles : Nilo Mur or Nilo Zimmerman , and his younger sister Flora : Ella Jones . She is hired by the uncle, the Master : Harvey Keitel, of the neglected kids. There is also a house keeper : Lauren Bacall , who knows about the past of the kiddies and the sinister mansion. As their souls have been possessed by dark forces . Then , there appears two creepy ghosts , Fosc : Agustín Villaronga and Jessel : Danica, the former and deceased workers who are corrupting the strange and innocent siblings.

Yet another renditíon full of chilling, and mysterious happenings about two brothers possessed by a sinister and uninamaginable evil . Being based on Henry James classic novel, including drama , tension , intrigue and frightening elements . It packs a lot of suspense, adequate suggestion and terror incidents. The film displays glamorous costumes by the prestigious and Oscarized designer Ivonne Blake as well as gorgeous cinematography by David Carretero and splendid interior and exteriors, being shot on location in island of Majorca . Furthermore , an eerie and suspenseful musical score by Angel Illaramendi . This academic and decent motion picture was well produced by Enrique Cerezo, Gil Carretero and professionally directed by Antonio Eloi. This is his only film, previously directed shorts and wrote the film El Mar directed by Agusti Villaronga who here plays a feared role as Fosc.

Other adaptations about The turn of Screw are the following ones : the best and classic The innocents 1961 by Jack Clayton with Deborah Kerr , Pamela Franklyn , Martin Stephens . A prequel titled Nightcomers 1971 by Michael Winner with Marlon Brando, Stephanie Beacham, Harry Andrews. Turn of the Screw 1974 by Dan Curtis with Lynn Redgrave, Eva Griffith . Otra vuelta de tuerca 1985 by Eloy de la Iglesia with Pedro Maria Sanchez, Queta Claver. Turn of the Screw 1989 by Graeme Clifford with Amy Irving , David Hemmings. 1992 version by Rusty Lemorande with Patsy Kensit , Julian Sands , Stephanie Audran . 1999 remake by Ben Bolt with Jodhi May , Pam Ferris , Colin Firth .

This movie is completely ruined by Sadie Frost who can't act and is rather too 'common' and for a period role. Shame really as it could have been rather good.