The Innocents (1961)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Matheus C

  
  It tackles the material in quite a corageous way for a 1960s mainstream British film. The sumptuous deep focus photography and set decoration make one fear getting lost in the mysterious shadows of its widescreen framing, with a perfectly propper Deborah Kerr making it difficult for… More
  It tackles the material in quite a corageous way for a 1960s mainstream British film. The sumptuous deep focus photography and set decoration make one fear getting lost in the mysterious shadows of its widescreen framing, with a perfectly propper Deborah Kerr making it difficult for us to second guess how this maybe-not-so-sane nanny will proceed with every creek of the old house. Mary Poppins she ain't.

• Cassandra M

  
  Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), a nineteenth century British governess, is appointed to take care of two children, Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens). Upon arriving at the bleak mansion she meets the housekeeper (Megs Jenkins) and also Flora. Miles arrives a few days… More
  Miss Giddens (Deborah Kerr), a nineteenth century British governess, is appointed to take care of two children, Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens). Upon arriving at the bleak mansion she meets the housekeeper (Megs Jenkins) and also Flora. Miles arrives a few days later from school. The children seem like little angels but, following a series of bizarre events and examples of the children's wicked impulses, Miss Giddens begins to suspect that all is not what it seems. This dark and atmospheric tale is a wonderful example of how to create an admirable horror movie that, although has violent undertones, features very little violence when all is said and done. 'The Innocents' is certainly a psychological horror movie which leaves in doubt how much of the inexplicable happenings are supernatural, and how much is in the mind of the protagonist, Miss Giddens. Director Jack Clayton uses some astonishing visual trickery and ghostly effects to create and maintain a very unsettling atmosphere, almost from the very beginning. A number of effective ghostly apparitions are displayed on screen during the movie from varying distances which gives 'The Innocents' a constant, foreboding atmosphere. The way some scene changes blend with the end of the previous scene are rather disconcerting and almost dream like as there are long lingering images, once again, wholly adding to the effect. Some of the dialogue may seem a little unrealistic, but in general the movie is well scripted and features a few very dramatic scenes thanks to some delightfully written dialogue and strong acting performances. William Archibald and Truman Capote both won awards for their script writing. The only real fault with 'The Innocents' is how fast the film moves along. Miss Giddens seems to realise the truth of what is happening all too quickly. This does not make 'The Innocents' less enjoyable, but it would have been nice to have had an extra ten minutes or so explaining the story to us a bit more. 'The Innocents' has a sustained tone of dread throughout the movie. It seems that Miss Giddens is unable to move without being confronted by some spectre or seeing some rather peculiar behaviour exhibited from the children. I'd compare the dark atmosphere with that of 'The Haunting' (1963), both movies are comparable in the way they are presented and are both aesthetically pleasing. The acting was of a high standard, though one must forgive the two young performers if they occasionally seemed to overact. Martin Stephens was very good as Miles, playing his sinister part with an awful power, even though the character's superciliousness became somewhat of an annoyance. Megs Jenkins was also delightful as the anxious housekeeper Mrs. Grose. From the moment Mrs. Grose is first introduced the viewer can begin to suspect something. Jenkins came across as a friendly, but scared, woman who is desperate to maintain decorum in the house. A fine performance suited her character marvellously. One must also mention Deborah Kerr's fine performance as Miss Giddens as she played it with the right balance of inquisitiveness and fear. Deborah's dramatic performance certainly helped make this movie fantastic and one sympathises with her deeply as the film ends on the sombre and heartbreaking note that it does. 'The Innocents' is an elegant and stylish movie that is certainly worth watching. Fans of 'The Omen' and 'Village of the Damned' should enjoy this as well as any fan of dark, atmospheric horror. A strong screenplay, fine performances and breathtaking visual trickery make this movie a very pleasing addition to the horror genre and I highly recommend it to all. 'The Innocents' was able to scoop a BAFTA Award (British Academy of Film and Television Awards) for Best British Film as well as a BAFTA nomination for Jack Clayton which he thoroughly deserved.

• Antony S

  
  Remarkable, damn-near flawless early British horror. The Innocents deserves far more recognition than it currently recieves; so far it seems to be a rare treasure. <br/>One of the few horrors that can be truly called ground-breaking, The Innocents quickly sets to work slaying… More
  Remarkable, damn-near flawless early British horror. The Innocents deserves far more recognition than it currently recieves; so far it seems to be a rare treasure. <br/>One of the few horrors that can be truly called ground-breaking, The Innocents quickly sets to work slaying the sacred cow of childish good-will and decency, and is perhaps the first 'scary child' picture (how hollow that sounds now). Kerr is excellent, and a brilliant 'straight' counter to the secretive, fantastical and sinister nature of her two young charges, presenting a tale tinged with 19th century darkness and deception, but never once going too far into the supernatural. In fact, it's chilling because it feels so possible. <br/>Not only is the acting top, but the camerawork is incredible, offering both peaceful splendour and low-level tracking shots that emphasise the gothic trapping of that disquieting house. Beautiful.

• Mark H

  
  Atmospheric horror film about an inexperienced governess who comes to a large estate to take care of two children that share a dark secret. Supernatural ghost story uses sumptuous cinematography and eerie lighting for maximum effect. This is a classy production, something few horror… More
  Atmospheric horror film about an inexperienced governess who comes to a large estate to take care of two children that share a dark secret. Supernatural ghost story uses sumptuous cinematography and eerie lighting for maximum effect. This is a classy production, something few horror films can claim. Not scary, but rather a grim mood piece that maintains an air of apprehension throughout the course of the film. The plot actually develops into something rather sinister. That Deborah Kerr is brilliant is expected, but child actor Martin Stephens is a marvel as Miles.

• Randy T

  
  Gothic ghost story with a twist. Filmed in glorious black & white, Jack Clayton's shadowy horror saga is ripe with those odd little subtleties that promote goosebumps and cold chills. Watch it with all the lights off.

• Luke B

  
  Perfectly stunning, a true horror film. The Innocents is a classic, but one that has hovered below the radar. The film is brilliant in the way it gradually tricks you into scaring yourself, rather than forcing the fear upon you. Things appear suddenly in shots, but are not accompanied… More
  Perfectly stunning, a true horror film. The Innocents is a classic, but one that has hovered below the radar. The film is brilliant in the way it gradually tricks you into scaring yourself, rather than forcing the fear upon you. Things appear suddenly in shots, but are not accompanied by loud sound effects or orchestral nonsense. The performances are some of the best you will see in a horror film, especially the child actors. They capture the alluring childish innocence as well as the sadistic creepy moments. The Innocents is a story of the corruption of innocence and how trying to prevent it is futile, but corrupting it is evil.

• Kylie B

  
  It's a rather beautiful film visually, with wonderful period detail. The screenplay takes across everything important from The Turn of The Screw and adds its own elements which manages to keep it fresh. The acting annoys me though, especially at the begining as it seems overly… More
  It's a rather beautiful film visually, with wonderful period detail. The screenplay takes across everything important from The Turn of The Screw and adds its own elements which manages to keep it fresh. The acting annoys me though, especially at the begining as it seems overly cheerful and twee, but that disappears when it gets more into the story.

• jd c

  
  The Innocents is a scary and atmospheric horror film. Perfect movie to watch around Halloween time! This is an excellent film. Beautiful cinematography, amazing strong performances, and a chilling story. Some creepy ass kids in this movie too. Watch this one alone at night, with the… More
  The Innocents is a scary and atmospheric horror film. Perfect movie to watch around Halloween time! This is an excellent film. Beautiful cinematography, amazing strong performances, and a chilling story. Some creepy ass kids in this movie too. Watch this one alone at night, with the lights off. Chilling stuff! <img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm89/JDHallowEEn/TheInnocents.jpg"> "A real shocker, it chills the heart." - Kalamazoo Gazette "Creepy, atmospheric happenings with effective direction + Deborah Kerr." - Video-Reviewmaster.com "Sends some formidable chills down the spine." - New York Times "An impressively creepy adaptation of Henry James' The Turn of the Screw." - Guardian [UK] "Stylish, intelligent and creepy. Cinematic storytelling at its finest, where word and image are perfectly married." - Channel 4 Film "...creates an appropriately spooky tone that builds slowly, incrementally, until it reaches a shattering conclusion." - DVDTown "A chilling movie! This film gives me the creeps every time I see it." - The Terror Trap "It sneaks under your skin, subtly and suggestively portraying something sinister and perverse that may exist only in the protagonist's head, but that doesn't mean it can't mess with yours." - DVDJournal "The Innocents a downright creepy film, the kind that haunts you long after the lights have been turned back on." - Classic-Horror.com "Is it the finest, smartest, most visually savvy horror film ever made by a big studio?" - Village Voice

• _kelly .

  
  Very atmospheric, fantastic sound editing. Not a fan of the story, it's too outdated and dull to work for me. Don't like it as much as I thought I would, and I can handle slow and non-scare based ghost stories. The subtext is pretty plain, and infers some weird events.… More
  Very atmospheric, fantastic sound editing. Not a fan of the story, it's too outdated and dull to work for me. Don't like it as much as I thought I would, and I can handle slow and non-scare based ghost stories. The subtext is pretty plain, and infers some weird events. Deborah Kerr is great at giving a scared look, and she plays the naive nanny very well. I wanted more visually out of this movie; that's my main complaint.

• Sarah G

  
  <u>Director:</u>Jack Clayton <u>Released:</u> 1961 <u>Stars:</u> Deborah Kerr,Michael Redgrave, Megs Jenkins <u>Genre:</u>Horror, Thriller <u>Country:</u> UK <a… More
  <u>Director:</u>Jack Clayton <u>Released:</u> 1961 <u>Stars:</u> Deborah Kerr,Michael Redgrave, Megs Jenkins <u>Genre:</u>Horror, Thriller <u>Country:</u> UK <a href="http://s137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/sarah88_uk/?action=view¤t=TheInnocents.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/sarah88_uk/TheInnocents.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> A young governess for two children becomes convinced that the house and grounds are haunted. One of our greatest Horror films ever made and I have to agree. Beautiful cinematography backed up by some fine acting. More to follow...

• Pierluigi P

  
  Creepy gothic ghost tale with a great performance by Deborah Kerr. stunning photography by Freddie Francis and impressive tact for suspense by Jack Clayton.

• Stephen M

  
  An impeccable adaptation of Henry James' wonderful "The Turn of the Screw". For those who find the book a little verbose and difficult, this is the next best thing, a chilling ghost story with some pretty daring ambiguities. Deborah Kerr, like Jean Simmons, made her… More
  An impeccable adaptation of Henry James' wonderful "The Turn of the Screw". For those who find the book a little verbose and difficult, this is the next best thing, a chilling ghost story with some pretty daring ambiguities. Deborah Kerr, like Jean Simmons, made her best films in Britain, before embarking on a Hollywood career, so it's fitting that she returned here to film this masterpiece. Jack Clayton's control of atmosphere is faultless, Freddie Francis' photography is stunning, and Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin are perfect as Miles and Flora. One of the greatest British horror movies ever made.

• Drew S

  
  I was completely blown away by this movie. Absolutely perfect in every sense, you don't deserve to call yourself a horror fan unless you've watched The Innocents.

• David S

  
  A very creepy film based on The Turn of the Screw this still works brilliantly today. The black and white photography invoke the gothic period feel and makes the whole thing look so elegant and stylish. The soundtrack is pretty much just a pleasant tune that is constantly hummed by… More
  A very creepy film based on The Turn of the Screw this still works brilliantly today. The black and white photography invoke the gothic period feel and makes the whole thing look so elegant and stylish. The soundtrack is pretty much just a pleasant tune that is constantly hummed by Flora throughout but starts to take on a more eeirie tone as the film progresses. There is also a great scene where Kerr is moving through the house late at night with a candle and keeps hearing whispering that escalates into a soundscape that Bernard Hermann obviously nicked for 'The Birds'. The film sticks close to the source material and it's nice to see a 60's film that doesn't pander to its audience and go for a 'nice' ending. The direction of Clayton is brilliant and heightens the tension with subtletly without going for the outright scares. On top of all this the performances are uniformly excellent with Kerr treading a fine line between hysteria and calm and Redgrave giving a commanding cameo as the uncle. It's the two child performances though that make this film work so well. I'd already seen Franklin in 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' so knew she was great but this is her screen debut and she looks like a complete pro. Stephens is mesmerizing as Miles and suggests a disturbing sexual maturity for the character. Both are amazing and if this film were made for the first time today with actors that strong they would both be shoe ins for major awards. Definitely worth putting at the top of your Halloween list or for late night viewing with a loved one. Just make sure the windows are closed or Quint might get you!

• Wu C

  
  A genuinely creepy classic. You can see it's influence, even in today's modern horror films. A must see for film buffs and classic cinema lovers.

• Marion R

  
  An interesting film. The child actors are really amazing and I liked the overall suspense. I liked that it's on a different level of typical horror films.

• Lord N

  
  You know, this is one of the few older films that kind of creeped me out. It might be the only one. I wasn't flat out scared or anything, but the film was unsettling. It's not your average semi-old horror film that's for sure. Deborah Kerr was quite excellent in this… More
  You know, this is one of the few older films that kind of creeped me out. It might be the only one. I wasn't flat out scared or anything, but the film was unsettling. It's not your average semi-old horror film that's for sure. Deborah Kerr was quite excellent in this one (she later said it was her favorite role and regarded it as her finest performance). There are a few aspects of the film that are a little messed up. Things that I'm surprised made it past the censors. but, this is another must see horror film. it is quite excellent. But don't take my word for it, see it yourself. TRIVIA TIME: 1. To create such sharp visuals, director of photography Freddie Francis used lots of huge bright lamps. Deborah Kerr sometimes had to resort to wearing sunglasses between takes. 2. François Truffaut regarded this as the best British film since Alfred Hitchcock had left for America. 3. The film opens with a creepy song written by Paul Dehn and Georges Auric sung over a black screen for about 45 seconds before the 20th Century Fox logo appears. In some cinemas, the projectionists assumed this was a mistake on the print and edited the film so it began with the appearance of the Fox logo.

• Sunil J

  
  Like a mix of the Other and the original Omen movie. Debra Kerr overracts the first half of this movie but it unfolds pretty well and has some controvercial moments.

• John M

  
  A ghost story or psychological thriller? Who can say? And to be honest, who cares? ?The Innocents' is an elegant. dark, atmospheric and stylish movie that is certainly worth watching. A strong screenplay, fine performances and good visual trickery make this movie a very pleasing… More
  A ghost story or psychological thriller? Who can say? And to be honest, who cares? ?The Innocents' is an elegant. dark, atmospheric and stylish movie that is certainly worth watching. A strong screenplay, fine performances and good visual trickery make this movie a very pleasing addition to the horror genre with huge ambiguos plot.

• Audrey L

  
  A very good,old fashioned scary movie-filmed in black and white yet cinematically beautiful,brooding,gothic and scary. Atmosphere is predominant-in the slow building up of the story of a new governess caring for 2 children discarded by their rich uncle. Deborah Kerr is fantastic-her… More
  A very good,old fashioned scary movie-filmed in black and white yet cinematically beautiful,brooding,gothic and scary. Atmosphere is predominant-in the slow building up of the story of a new governess caring for 2 children discarded by their rich uncle. Deborah Kerr is fantastic-her emotive expression just perfectly contributing to the suspense and unease.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings