I haven't seen a whole lot of British films. While it's my home nation, the cinema of it just never really appealed to me. Though sometimes my curiosity has been strong enough to get me to check something out, and this time it was the 1961 The Innocents, an English film I chose to watch leading up to Halloween. As part of a few other black and white horror films I've been watching as of late, I figured this would be something that has potential that is new to me. At first I didn't know it was even British, and my curiosity was heightened upon the opening credits in which the film proudly advertised its use of cinemascope. I'm sure you're wondering what that even is, well, ultimately it's a form of anamorphic filmmaking. Widescreen cinema as we know it. Very different to the world's more common use of a 4:3 aspect ratio where everything was typically boxed. This was relatively new for the era.
For a horror film this was definitely something quite experimental. A shift in the idea of how horror can be told, or even just a story. As it removes the boxy aspect ratio and style that had long been established, where filmmakers now had a huge frame to display character movements and depth within. Some films around this time had already used a wider aspect ratio and of course anamorphics, but I think this was the first time I had seen a horror from this era using it. Black and white, but still wide and beautiful in its immersive cinematography. The directing taking advantage of all of this. And I really liked it! Anyway, less geeky rambles about the process, and some info on the film itself!
As is quite common with horror films of this era, the film takes place in a beautiful location where all seems relatively well. The beautiful Essex countryside and at a wealthy estate. Beautiful natural areas, a river flowing through, and takes place during the summer. What could possibly go wrong in such a space? Well, a woman is hired to take care of the family's children at the estate. All seems well as she starts to learn of their habits, finding sympathy for them and learning of their characteristics. Though over time there appears to be a mystery regarding the family and the estate. She starts to hear and see things within the house and around its grounds, starting to doubt whether she has been told everything.
This begins a very quick descent into madness as she learns of what happened to the family, but also begins to be tormented by some spirits she is convinced everyone lies about seeing or hearing. Even the children themselves keeping the truth hidden from her. I really liked how this unfolded, as at first you feel like she is onto something, and that there might be a haunting taking place at the house, though as everyone else denies seeing the same things she is seeing, the woman starts to look more and more mad. I loved how the film directly shows us what she sees. Figures just standing there, looking out at her. The mystery of whether they're real or not, or if she really is going crazy. Oh, how I wish the British film industry managed to maintain this direction!
