I recently introduced this 1961 psychological horror as part of the current Eclectic Cinema season. I saw the film for the first time only last week and liked it, 95% of it at least. It is the second feature fron director Jack Clayton, 2 years after he made Room at the Top - a tale of love for all the wrong reasons set against grim Northern England monotony that's well worth seeking out.
There are clues in the dialogue to the weird goings on from the get-go. But they are subtle, and almost always open to interpretation. Subtle enough that the main character, a kind-hearted, chirpy, naive nanny meeting her new children for the first time, notices nothing amiss. In most cases, only paranoia would raise the red flags. Before too long though, we start to see visions, most likely of the former house staff that have died, perhaps suspiciously. We follow the story through her innocent eyes, and like her, we can't quite work out whether or not the children and house are on the level.
Children have always been a safe bet for the subject of horror films. They are angelic of course, but their emotion driven young minds make them very unpredictable and hard to read. There is some inventive and effective sound design at play, and the setting and camera work make this a very good looking film. Not to mention a classy one - there are no over-dramatic cues to crucial plot points, it is a considered slow-burning fuse. The resulting ignition is, if anything, underwhelming however. The substantial spooky air and mood cultivation is commendable, but sadly culminates in a misfire of anti climactic conclusion. A re-write of the last few pages of the script may have been a good move.
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