The Turning: An Unsettling Story of Reality and Perception
The confusing ending of The Turning, a 2020 horror film inspired on Henry James's novella The Turn of the Screw (1898), confused viewers. The movie and the book have similar core ideas about a governess protecting kids from ghostly creatures, but they differ greatly in terms of locale, character growth, and, in the end, resolution.
James's novella, The Turning: A Twisted Reflection
Unlike the novella's Victorian-era England, the film's tale takes place in 1994 and has older characters. Interestingly, Bly Manor—the estate where the novella is set—is not mentioned in The Turning. The home would subsequently play a key role in Mike Flanagan's Netflix horror series, The Haunting of Bly Manor, thus this exclusion is notable.
The film also explores the past of the lead character in greater detail, presenting Mackenzie Davis's Kate Mandell, who has a personal background that shapes the story. This is in sharp contrast to the novella's nameless governess, who is so shallow.
Doubting Spirits and an Uncertain Host
Unlike the novella, the turning leaves ghosts' existence unclear. But Kate is convinced that they are there because she has seen the ghostly images of Peter Quint, the previous stable master, and Miss Jessel, the former governess, haunting the mansion. Through Kate's dream, in which she sees a terrifying apparition of Miss Jessel, the film reinforces this view.
The movie also doesn't address the issue of Miles being possessed or influenced by Peter Quint. Suspicion is aroused by Miles's admission of having been close to Peter during his lifetime and of being unable to leave the mansion because of Peter's presence. Nevertheless, Miles's activities are called into question due to Kate's faulty perception of reality, his spoilt conduct, and his expulsion from school for almost hitting a pupil.
Is The Twist a Real or Dream?
The stunning revelation in The Turning's ending is that Kate's attempt to flee the estate with Miles and Flora was only a visualization caused by her unstable mental state. After learning this information, Kate begins to wonder if she has the same mental illness as her mother and whether the ghosts she has seen are actually real.
A haunting likeness to Perfect Blue and I'm Thinking About Ending Things
Like I'm Thinking of ending Things by Charlie Kaufman and Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon, The Turning explores the hazy boundaries between perception and reality. Kate's effort to separate reality from her own inner anguish is expertly depicted in the film. The film's terror stems from its investigation of subjective perception, which makes viewers feel extremely uneasy.
The Turning's Divisive Resolution
The Turning's ending, in particular, drew harsh criticism. Many critiqued it for being too reliant on the cliched "it was all a dream" and considered it to be disappointing. This general criticism of the film is reflected in its low ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
An Attempt at Atonement: The Different Resolution
Blu-Ray version of the alternate ending was issued by Universal in response to the unfavorable reviews. There is a moment in this ending where Peter Quint attacks Kate, but she chokes him to death. But things take a turn when Kate discovers she's actually strangling Miles, and a spider crawls out of him to resurrect him. Although Miles's ownership is left unclear, this ending offers a sense of completion.
A Movie That Sticks in Your Head
The Turning is nevertheless an intriguing movie that sticks in your head long after the credits have rolled, despite its shortcomings and contentious ending. It is a scary and lasting experience because of its investigation of perception and the horrific effects of uncertainty.
