Movies
[Review] ‘The Turning’ Retells a Gothic Classic With Style, Little Substance and a Baffling Non-Conclusion
Henry James’ novella The Turn of The Screw has received numerous adaptations since its initial publication, The Innocents most widely regarded among them. His story about an inexperienced governess in over her head with two young wards, seemingly in the grip of a powerful haunting, makes for substantial material to frame new interpretations, thanks in large part to the enigmatic way he crafted the tale. Considering that the novella was published in 1898, though, and the role of a governess has evolved, it’s no surprise that the latest adaptation would bring the story into a more modern setting. But it’s the story that matters most, and The Turning seems to give up trying to tell one at all.
Set in 1994, Kate (Mackenzie Davis) gives up her current low-level teaching job when presented with a unique opportunity to serve as governess for an orphaned girl from a wealthy family. The previous governess left abruptly, hinted at in the opening. Being that Kate sees herself as a sort of orphan thanks to a dad that abandoned her and a mom (Joely Richardson) that’s currently in a psychiatric ward, she’s eager to make a difference in the life of her new ward, Flora (Brooklynn Prince). Everything is going swimmingly, save for the labyrinthine halls of the sprawling estate, and the creepy décor, until Flora’s older brother Miles (Finn Wolfhard) returns home from boarding school after a violent incident results in his expulsion. Miles’ behavior is off-putting from the first moment Kate meets him, but it grows increasingly bizarre as the estate’s dark secrets slowly reveal themselves.
For the most part, writers Carey W. Hayes and Chad Hayes (The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2) adhere closely to the novella’s blueprints. There are noticeable changes, aside from the ’90s setting, like the introduction of Kate’s mother. This is the workaround the writers interjected to create the feeling of ambiguity; are the children and the manor being haunted by its dark past, or is Kate inheriting her mother’s madness? The brief scene that introduces Kate’s mother tries to double down on the ambiguity by hinting that perhaps the mother is clairvoyant.
Floria Sigismondi, best known for her directorial work on music videos and The Runaways, marries ’90s grunge to Gothic horror with dazzling style. Sigismondi has a keen eye for framing shots, visuals, and detail that draws you in. It’s a gorgeous film. The Turning is also well-acted; Davis gives it her all, and Prince shows surprising depth and range in what could’ve been a standard creepy kid role.
The problem is the story. It’s effectively atmospheric, but the scares are generic and bland. Those already familiar with the source material might find this version a bit sleepy. There’s not much of an emotional connection, either, outside of Davis’ natural charm. Just as the narrative is kicking into high gear, building toward an exciting third act that looks to forge its own path, it stops. Dead in its tracks. It offers a baffling non-conclusion to a well-shot and well-acted film that’s going to draw ire from audiences. Sure, James’ novella also had an abrupt ending, but his story was so richly textured that it’s left readers with a lot of story to chew on over a century later. Readers still can’t agree on whether the governess had gone mad or if the children were under the sway of ghosts, even today. The Turning seems to frame its ending based on that indecisiveness, doubling down on the ambiguity James’ novella reveled in. Just without any necessary context.
For much of its runtime, The Turning exists in the realm of “fine.” It’s Gothic, moody, and strays enough off the beaten path to keep you mildly interested. Any goodwill it earns, though, is undone by inexplicable story choices that leave a sour taste in your mouth. Being that the film was initially slated for release in February 2019, and much of the trailer contains moments that aren’t in the movie at all, it’s hard not to wonder if the studios accidentally hacked too much out of the final cut. The result is all style and very little substance, with one of the most baffling endings in recent memory.
At least we have another adaptation to look forward to this year.
Ghostface is back on the big screen this weekend… well, sort of… with the release of Scary Movie, which marks the Wayans brothers’ return to the horror spoof franchise for the first time since Scary Movie 2 back in the day. It’s likely to be the talk of the horror community for the weekend, but don’t overlook the other six genre movies that were freshly unleashed today.
Here’s all the new horror that released on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The horror spoof franchise is back with Scary Movie now playing in theaters!
Marlon Wayans (“Shorty”), Shawn Wayans (“Ray”), Anna Faris (“Cindy”), and Regina Hall (“Brenda”) reunite for the new Scary Movie, with the cast also including Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Jon Abrahams, Damon Wayans Jr., Gregg Wayans, Kim Wayans, Benny Zielke, Cameron Scott Roberts, Heidi Gardner, Olivia Rose Keegan, Ruby Snowber, Savannah Lee Nassif, Sydney Park, and Felissa Rose.
Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer (“Ghostface”), the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe…
Scary Movie will slash through reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, origin stories, anything with the word legacy in it, and every “final chapter” that absolutely isn’t. A whole lot has changed in the horror genre since the Wayans Brothers were in charge of the franchise; their involvement ended with Scary Movie 2 back in 2001!
Michael Tiddes (A Haunted House) directs Scary Movie 6 from a script written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, original Scary Movie director Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans (Scary Movie 2), and Rick Alvarez (A Haunted House).
From IFC, shark attack movie Chum is now available on Digital.
Alice Eve (Haunting of Queen Mary) stars in shark attack movie alongside Eric Michael Cole, Jim Klock, Elle Haymond, Lisa Yaro, Johnny Gaffney, and Sarah Siadat.
This one sounds very similar to last year’s Dangerous Animals…
Here’s the plot: “A newlywed couple joins friends on a Mediterranean yacht excursion, only to find themselves caught between a predatory shark and a psychopathic killer in their midst-transforming a sun-drenched escape into a fight for survival.”
Jonathan Zuck directs Chum, from a script by Jonathan Zuck and Joe Leone.
Samara Weaving (Ready or Not 2: Here I Come) and Kyle Gallner (Strange Darling) come together in Carolina Caroline, a sexy crime thriller now playing in theaters.
It’s not a horror movie, mind you, but it’s worth a mention here all the same.
Kyra Sedgwick (Family Movie) and Jon Gries also star in the romantic crime thriller.
Director Adam Carter Rehmeier’s film stars Samara Weaving as Caroline Daniels, whose desire to leave her small Texas town brings her into the orbit of a charismatic con man (Kyle Gallner), and together they weave a path of crime and passion across the American Southeast.
Adam Rehmeier previously directed the films Dinner in America and Snack Shack.
Tom Dean wrote the screenplay for Carolina Caroline.
Similar to Steven Spielberg’s upcoming big screen blockbuster Disclosure Day, Signal One explores humankind’s enduring question: what if we aren’t alone in the universe?
The sci-fi thriller is now available on Digital.
Isabelle Fuhrman (Orphan), Josh Hutcherson (Five Nights at Freddy’s), David Thewlis (Harry Potter), Raoul Bhaneja (Possessor), Emma Ho (“The Expanse”), and Dennis Quaid (The Substance) star in Signal One from director Jonathan Sobol (The Art of the Steal).
When tech billionaire Sam Houston (Quaid) hires the brilliant computer scientist Annika (Fuhrman), she ventures to an isolated facility run by the brilliant, nihilistic creator of LITTLEMOUTH, a machine which can communicate with alien intelligence.
Annika soon learns some humanity-altering facts: that we are not alone in the universe, that alien intelligences are communicating around us at every moment, and that we are likely too primitive to even remotely understand what they are trying to tell us.
When the goal of the endeavor shifts from listening to talking back, the project rapidly devolves into chaos. With contact comes consequences, and soon Annika and the team must work to ensure the very survival of our species.
A schoolyard dare becomes an urban legend in the creepypasta-inspired horror anthology The Summoning. The indie film is now available on Digital from Brainstorm Media.
“A babysitting gig becomes a nightmare of urban legend when three teens summon Baby Blue. Survival depends on uncovering the past to escape a mother’s wrath from beyond the grave.”
Felipe Vargas (Rosario, Hive), Sergio Gonzalez, Brandon Piskorik, Corey Benson Powers, and Brian Sepanzyk direct the segments. Valeria San Martín, Justina Ceballos, Daniela Flombaum, Nannu Spannauss, Agustín Olcese, and Giovanni Onetti star.
The Summoning is written by Camilo Zaffora.
Happy Death Day actress Jessica Rothe stars as a mom struggling to keep her grip on her sanity and memory in the mind-bending Affection, now available on Digital at home.
In Affection, “Afflicted by a mysterious condition that resets her memory, Ellie becomes trapped in a cyclical nightmare with a man who claims to be her husband. She soon must uncover the horrifying truth of her existence—before she forgets it all again.“
Joseph Cross (“Big Little Lies”) and Julianna Layne (“Chicago P.D.”) also star in the sci-fi horror thriller. Affection marks the feature debut by writer/director BT Meza.
Daniel Kurland wrote in his review out of the film’s premiere, “Affection is steeped in existential questions and fears that plague modern society, while it embraces the ethos of the ’80s through bold body horror. Add to that Rothe’s revelatory performance, and Affection is a hidden gem that will connect with your mind, body, and soul.”
Lucile Hadžihalilović’s latest dark fairy tale, The Ice Tower, loosely reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s fable “The Snow Queen,” and it’s now streaming on Shudder.
In the ’70s set film, “Jeanne, a 15-year-old orphan, witnesses the shoot of a film adaptation of the fairy tale The Snow Queen, and she becomes fascinated by its star Cristina (Marion Cotillard), an actress who is just as mysterious and alluring as the Queen she is playing.“
Clara Pacini stars as Jeanne. August Diehl and Marine Gesbert also star in The Ice Tower, and look for a cameo from director Gaspar Noé (Climax, Irréversible).
“For me, The Ice Tower solidified Lucile Hadžihalilović’s place amongst the most fascinating creators of fairy tales today,” said distributor Yellow Veil Pictures co-founder Joe Yanick.
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