THE INNOCENTS (1961) and the Horrors of Repression -Repost
“Sometimes one can’t help… imagining things.” Released nearly 60 years ago, Jack Clayton’s The Innocents still remains one of the greatest psychologically charged horror movies ever. Anchored by an all-time performance by Deborah Kerr, whose fragile and frantic governess believes that the children in her care have become possessed by two ill-fated lovers who now utilize the juveniles as a means to continue to not only live on, but experience the joys of childhood once again, The Innocents set the bar for “evil kid” horror in 1961, and its legacy in that regard remains unmatched even now.
Based on playwright William Archibald’s adaptation of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, the power of The Innocents lies in its ambiguity and its smothering atmosphere, as it explores the horrors of sexual repression in the Victorian era. The Innocents is also propelled by a palpable sense of paranoia that continues to build until the film’s final fright-filled moments, and its timeless scares still evoke feelings of dread and terror, leaving you speculating at its conclusion about just how much of the mania was self-created by Kerr’s character, or if there were indeed ghosts lurking about at the Bly estate.
If you’ve somehow never watched The Innocents, or are unfamiliar with James’ original story, it follows a young woman named Miss Giddens (Kerr), who takes on a position as a governess for two young children who have been orphaned and now live at their uncle’s (Michael Redgrave) summer estate. His only rules for the young woman is that she is to take complete responsibility for the kids, as he does not want to be bothered by any trivialities when it comes to child-rearing. Giddens is eager to take on the role, and when she declares, “I’ll do everything I can to keep the children happy,” it’s a seemingly innocuous statement, but there’s something slightly desperate about her total commitment to her new charges, and those words take on a life of their own soon enough.
Read More - THE INNOCENTS (1961) and the Horrors of Repression - Heather Wixon - Daily Dead
