the latest version of Henry James' haunted house classic fails to raise a scare; instead of intriguing ambiguity, this updated version – which had a long and bumpy development -- offers only maddening confusion
overall, this an ambitiously crafted and robustly acted adaptation which could have been so much more were it not for some glaring mistakes and a screenplay that could have benefited from a heavy rewrite and perhaps a tad more subtlety
it's less about answers and more about evoking a richly rendered gothic horror vibe while intuition bitterly battles reason. It may not work for everyone, but those for whom it works will find much to savor and puzzle over in "The Turning"
in a movie as utterly lost as "The Turning", everything from the performances to the production design to the music cues amount to one big pile of dirty mirrors and doll parts
a generic but competent reboot-quel enlivened by good performances across the board and some stylish direction. No grudges need be held here, but maybe it's time to put this franchise to bed
"The Turning" sacrifices narrative and emotional coherence in favor of a series of would-be scary set pieces that seem mainly designed to discourage aspiring nannies from pursuing the vocation
"The Turning" enjoys a gorgeous setting, but relies too heavily on the gothic manor for ambiance. The story lacks overall cohesiveness. While the imagery is chilling, that is just not enough to carry a film
by Katie Walsh [Tribune News Service ]
by Donald Clarke [Irish Times ]
by Alyse Wax [Dread Central ]
