A first-time governess is hired to care for the young niece and nephew of a rich and carefree socialite. He’s looking for someone with “imagination” that can keep the kids out of trouble and out of his life. The lovely Ms. Giddens is eager to fill the role and live on their beautiful estate, shared by only a handful of housekeepers. But something seems amiss from the start, and she suspects that the siblings share ominous secrets. She manages to unearth some dirt from the staff about the previous governess who committed suicide. Her paranoia grows wildly, and soon she has visions of phantoms that may or may not be invading the giant house. The children don’t seem rattled by any of the creaky mysteries, and their perpetually pleasant demeanors only creep Ms. Giddens out even more. In trying to add up the clues about the “corrupted” orphans, she slides into hysteria and concludes the children are possessed. Ms. Giddens’ anxieties finally begin to take a toll on the kids, who approach nervous breakdowns of their own. The girl and the staff are sent away so the governess can attempt to purge the boy of his demons, but as you can guess things don’t end well. Based on The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, The Innocents is an effectively spooky story. The direction and shots are relatively simple, but suggest a lot bubbling under the surface. The governess’ sexual repression is only hinted at, but contributes greatly to the mounting confusion. The ambiguity of the source of the eerie goings-on – apparitions or insanity? – make the movie truly haunting. It’s a blueprint of classic horror.

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