
The Innocents
1961, Horror, 1h 40m
54 Reviews 5,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Creepily atmospheric, The Innocents is a stylishly crafted, chilling British ghost tale with Deborah Kerr at her finest. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Miss Giddens
Miles
Flora
The Uncle
Peter Quint
Mrs. Grose
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Critic Reviews for The Innocents
All Critics (53) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (50) | Rotten (3)
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It must be granted at once that no shot, no sequence, approaches James -- but there are moments when the film faithfully reflects that existence of evil in the innocent which is the core of the written word.
July 14, 2020 -
It creeps slowly up on the viewer: a drip-feed of fear fed by creaks, eerie children and shadowy demonic figures on the periphery of this world and the next.
September 22, 2015 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
You can watch 'The Innocents' twice and walk away with different conclusions. Psychological horrors have imitated its ambiguous ending ever since. Few have pulled it off half as creepily.
October 6, 2014 | Full Review… -
Kerr's performance vibrates with complicated tension and vulnerability, as she communicates the internal life of a woman constantly at war with herself.
October 6, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review… -
Oozing ambiguity, Jack Clayton's shimmering gem is a masterclass in suggestion, a flawless evocation of the uncanny which pits the subconscious against the supernatural to genuinely hair-raising effect.
December 16, 2013 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review… -
A crackling, eerie, coldly beautiful account of the novel, which reveals new subtleties and meanings every time you go back.
December 13, 2013 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Innocents
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Oct 08, 2015The Innocents is a very well-made film, with many subtle touches. The setting lends quite a bit of character to it. The performances are good, though in typical 1950s-style melodramatic form. If you are a fan of classic Hitchcock films or Twilight Zone episodes, you will likely find The Innocents enjoyable as well.Robert B Super Reviewer
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Dec 07, 2012The best ghost stories ask what gets to be a pretty serious question if they are done right: "what do YOU think what happened?" or essentially, how much do you believe in yourself? Did you see that? Did you hear that? Is this really happening? All of these are better than the alternative which is never too far behind: "Or am I crazy?" So this is the foundation of Henry James immortal classic ghost tale, and its a beautiful piece of work. Deborah Kerr finds one of her best turns here as she begins to believe that much more is going on beneath the innocent surface of appearances (in a dark and gloomy deserted castle no less) that what seems readily apparent. Practically the father of this genre, the years not dulling the sharpness of the knife, no, not one lick at all.Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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Oct 25, 2011It 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.Matheus C Super Reviewer
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Jul 05, 2011A 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!David S Super Reviewer
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