The Turning: D

A more apt title for The Turning would be "The Turding." It's that bad. Although visually impressive and featuring strong acting, director Floria Sigismondi's adaptation of Henry James's novella doesn't leave much to the imagination. The effectiveness of The Turn of the Screw lies in the ambiguity of whether supernatural occurrences contribute to the governess's crumbling sanity. In addition, there are problems at the script level—particularly awkward sexual tension, too many dream sequences and red herrings—that detract from the final film's emotional impact, despite some palpable scares. Because of these faults, The Innocents remains the superior screen version.

Sean Woodard, Film Editor