The Innocents, Cinemas across London

Supernatural thriller The Innocents (1961), based on the Henry James' short story Turn of the Screw , is a masterclass in suspense and enigma. The film is frequently voted the best of its kind, and this month is to be re-released by the British Film Institute, as part of their GOTHIC: The Dark Heart of Film series.

In this chilling black-and-white movie, director Jack Clayton, ( The Great Gatsby  1974 and Room at the Top  1959), tells a story of sweetness gone sour, bringing James's demonic tale of possessed children off the page. The film is underpinned by a Freudian concept of repression but, unlike many Hollywood horrors today, it shys away from overt sexuality and violence in favour of implication and atmosphere. 

The film comes from a golden age of American cinema, when the brightest actors and writers from both stage and screen worked together, regardless of genre. Look out for Deborah Kerr, the striking lead, who already had a glittering career behind her when she took the role of the troubled governess. She  gaine six Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, but this may be her finest performance- full of the possibility and silence. Sir Michael Redgrave, the celebrated polymathic thespian, also makes an appearance as the elusive uncle who doesn't have time for his young niece and nephew. 

The film is as extraordinary today as it was fifty years ago. Despite many copyists The Innocents has scenes that few contemporary directors would feel comfortable putting into a big-budget production; it begins with a simple shot of  a blank screen and the soundtrack of a child's song, and is happy to pause over the minutiae of its dialogue. Do not miss this opportunity to see a truly seminal work up close- its shadowy aesthetic is designed to overwhelm, and needs the big screen to do it justice.

Certificate 12A. 

Tickets: £8.50 - £12.50

Address & Map:  Belvedere Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8XT  ‎

Nearest Tube: Waterloo