In Its Feminist Spin On ‘The Turn Of The Screw’, ‘The Turning’ Fatally Flubs The Finale

Reviewed by Kristy Puchko

The glory of psychological horror is the doubt injected within it. Is there truly a malevolent spirit creeping through creaking halls of the grand old house? Is there someone lurking in the dark, hungry to do harm? Is there a Babadook knock-knock-knocking at the closet door? Or is it all in the mind of a harried woman pushed to bring of sanity? The “what if” of it all is crucial to the stinging pleasure of this viewing experience, tickling your brain with possibilities. Perhaps the most popular tale of such stories is Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. This gothic horror novella has been adapted to film and television dozens of times over the past 122 years. And Floria Sigismondi’s The Turning certainly is another one, and almost a great one! Shame its attempt to give this old tale a fresh relevance is fumbled in a bewildering final act.

The script by Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes hews close to the original setup of James’ novella. Mackenzie Davis stars as a Kate, dedicated young teacher who agrees to take a governess job at a far-flung estate, where she will tutor an orphaned girl named Flora (The Florida Project‘s Brooklynn Prince). The house is vast, filled with shadowy corners, strange staircases, and dark secrets. But Kate is instantly charmed by the plucky child with a big imagination and a crooked grin. However, she’s less delighted by the house’s other residents.