The Innocents (1961)

I love the cinematography! It made it feel like it was a color film even though it was in black and white, it just seemed so well shot. The shadows were very striking. The gazebo scene in the rain. When the governess is wandering in the hall with the candle and it’s the only light flashing on the paintings on the walls! The sound design in that scene made those moments really eerie. In the greenhouse scene, where the ghost is behind Miles while he talks, the condensation on the window is really creepy. I love the composition of different characters in the background and the foreground. 

The film specialized in atmosphere. Isolation is the mood. In the big house, no one else was around; they hardly even show the other maids. It was interesting how Miss Gidden’s clothes changed. She wore lighter clothes when she was with Flora and darker clothes when she is with Miles. Maybe that’s because she believed Flora to be more uncorrupted. You’re not supposed to corrupt children. They’re supposed to be innocent; that’s how we as a society view them. When you change that, it feels new and strange and wrong. The actor who played Miles did an amazing job acting like a mature person in a child’s body. The way he leaned in the doorway like a certified dapper gentleman. Props to that kid, holy crap! 

With the candlelight, the eerie sounds, and the children whispering, the scene where she wanders the hall could be an image of Miss Gidden losing her sanity. I couldn’t decide because the ghosts did show up and the kids did act strange and different… or was that her perception?

A lot of religious fanatics are convinced that they need to purify and end up making things worse than when they started.

In the end, I couldn’t decide whether or not she was insane, if the ghosts were real, or if the whole thing was some metaphor. Ladies, this is what happens when a priest’s daughter gets horny. She destroys children. Watch out!

Scary: 3 

I thought the singing was chilling. The scene where she’s wandering through the halls, the lighting and sound design were so eerie. The gazebo scene with a ghost in broad daylight like the ghost thought she would win, while the rain was pouring down. Once, the ghost walks by, and the governess doesn’t seem to think anything of it. It’s like the ghost belongs.

Creepy: 3 

The song about the willow tree was very creepy. The candlelight, the children whispering. There was such a weird tension between the governess and Miles. There was some symbolism when they put their hands over the fire, but I don’t know what it is. The wilted roses are definitely a symbol of lost virginity. 

Disturbing: 2.5 

The whole atmosphere was disturbing. When Miles is choking the governess. The scene where Flora won’t stop screaming. I felt bad for the turtle. It didn’t deserve that.

Suspenseful: 3

The most suspenseful scene is where she wanders around the house at night. She keeps turning the corner and you think she’ll see something, but she doesn’t, again and again, so it keeps keeping you on your toes.

Good: 4 

It was good because of the cinematography, the sound design, and the overall eerieness of the atmosphere. It’s almost like it’s up to the viewer’s interpretation whether the ghosts are real or the governess is losing her sanity. When viewers argue with each other about their interpretations, you know the director really achieved that unsurety. 

I wrote these film reviews when I was 14. Hire me to draw. -Lillian Schrag