The Turning
“The Turning doesn’t offer much.”
Title: The Turning (2020)
Director: Floria Sigismondi 👩🏼🇮🇹🇨🇦
Writers: Carey W. Hayes 👨🏼🇺🇸 and Chad Hayes 👨🏼🇺🇸
Review by Caillou 👨🏼🇨🇦
Technical: 2/5
Italian-Canadian director Floria Sigismondi had a fairly daunting task when it came to adapting the beloved and iconic horror novella, The Turn of the Screw. Written by Henry James in 1898, the story could be tricky to tackle due to its many twists and an ending that is open for interpretation. Sadly, Sigismondi struggled to find her footing here, because of a messy script that leads nowhere and that packs in pointless jump scares. In the film’s only saving grace, the gothic cinematography by David Ungaro stands out and does set up some great atmosphere.
Gender: 3/5
Does it pass the Bechdel Test? YES
For starters, it’s great to see Sigismondi behind the camera. And the film’s relatively large cast features women such as its leading actress, Mackenzie Davis. However, the character she plays, Kate Mandell, does not get a lot to do. Scenes with Kate usually involve her panicking and running away screaming, but not much else. We don't learn about her backstory other than that she is a governess.
Another role is given to Brooklynn Prince, but she gets saddled with being the stereotypical "creepy kid" character.
Race: 1.5/5
The vast majority of the cast in The Turning is white. In fact, the only actor of color involves Kim Adis, who was born in the Philippines. Unfortunately, she occupies a very small role as a tenant of the mansion that Kate visits, but has no dialogue.
Mediaversity Grade: D 2.17/5
The Turning doesn’t offer much. It has some strong and often mystic cinematography that pleases the eye, and has quite a few women in the cast considering the often misogynistic genre of horror, but it severely lacks actors of color. Even the characters who do get leading roles have little material to work with, making The Turning an easy one to skip.
Like The Turning? Try these other horror flicks.
It: Chapter Two (2019)
Hereditary (2018)
Us (2019)