I love the story, Turn Of The Screw by Henry James, and the
subsequent film versions of the story, but one of the key elements of the
whole thing is the mystery. We are not really supposed to know just how,
what, why or how kinky Quint and Jessel were and what the children in their
care saw or heard to corrupt them. We are not supposed to know if the
ghosts are real or simply in the head of the new teacher. Even as the tale
concludes, reading it as James intended, no one is completely certain of
anything. Thus the prequel here does little on its own merit or for the
classic novel.
Brando and Beacham are sufficiently kinky in their roles. In fact, Brando is
Brando all the way, characteristically overacting in that style which
endeared him to many in spite of his flaws. The children of course see and
imitate their role models, setting the stage for what is to come as Turn Of
The Screw takes place.
On the other hand, an utter absurdity takes place where the children kill
their adult idols, supposedly helping them be together for eternity in
death. Gag me. Rather than this, I would have much rather seen Brando and
Beacham reduced to the silent roles of ghosts and another remake of Turn of
The Screw done instead. It would have been a kicker to see Brando as the
ghostly Quint and for the first time in his career, leering, but keeping his
mouth shut for once. In The Nightcomers, he makes a great Quint, to be sure,
but the script, the movie and the whole concept could have been done better,
if at all. One gets the feeling he is doing parody on purpose in this flick
and while he pulls it off, it does not redeem the movie.
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