The Innocents

The Innocents is the first film in our season of Children in European Gothic Cinema.  It was recently featured, in a new print, in a long BFI season of Gothic Films.  The film will be introduced and there will be an opportunity to discuss it afterwards.

The Guardian places it at number 11 in its top 25 best horror films and Andrew Pulver, their critic, describes it as ‘absolute classic British black-and-white horror, creepy and atmospheric despite – or perhaps because of – the elegance and gentility of its visuals’.  It was directed by Jack Clayton, straight after Room at the Top, and the cinematographer is the great Freddie Francis.  Based on Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, John Mortimer and Truman Capote both have credits for the screenplay.  It won an Edgar Allan Poe award in 1962.  It stars Deborah Kerr, beautifully costumed.

We are showing it as an illustration of the ways in which children are often portrayed in horror film, as not as innocent as they are meant to be.