2020's The Turning was a 90s-set adaptation of a classic Victorian novel by Henry James, but it failed to thrill horror fans, and received largely negative reviews from critics and audiences alike.

Tales of Gothic horror and haunted house stories have been more popular in recent years, seeing a resurgence after the warm reception toward series like Penny Dreadful and Mike Flanagan's The Haunting of Hill House. Even larger franchises, such as The Conjuring movies, explore the concepts of possession, supernatural entities from different cultural backgrounds, and draw from true stories to create their thematic scares for eager horror audiences. The second season of Flanagan's Netflix series is exploring the same source materialThe Turn of the Screw, as The Turning, but while it initially seemed there would be some competition, after the film released in theaters on January 24, 2020, it seemed that - based on critical and audience scores - there would be no contest. Flanagan's Hill House series was a staggering success.

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Even so, The Turning didn't lack because of its source material or even for merits like acting, cinematography, direction, or technical effects. All of these categories were superb. The Turning didn't work for horror audiences because it failed to fully capitalize on core, key aspects which make projects within this genre so effective and appealing; when executed correctly, Gothic and supernatural horror movies can be thrill rides from start to finish.

The Turning Was Too Slow And Too Tame

While slowly creaking doors and long, drawn out sequences of corridors to be explored in lofty old houses are a cornerstone of these types of films, one of the worst things a horror film can be - especially when there's only a short run time - is slow. The Turning, to its credit, poured a lot into the thematic elements of the tale, and really dug deep to include beautifully placed shots, eye-catching effects, and some absolutely gorgeous set pieces that held fast to its roots. However, for only being an hour and forty minutes long, the long gaps felt even longer.

A lot of harsh critiques have been passed in the direction of horror movies that have aspired to be rated PG-13, which The Turning is, but this isn't a distinctly negative thing on its own. Many movies in this particularly sub-genre can do well by being largely bloodless; it's more about ambiance than violence. However, the choice to lean more on jump scares - which are mostly ineffective with modern horror audiences, as they're predictable - led to the film being too tame. Most disappointing was the fact that one of the most disturbing shots in the film's trailer, which saw a spider crawling out of someone's mouth, was left on the cutting room floor entirely. While the misleading hand-wave is appreciated, as it doesn't give key details of the film away, it promised more of the same, and didn't deliver.

The Turning's Ending Left A Lot To Be Desired

While there's nothing wrong with an open-ended finale, The Turning's ending left more questions than answers, and not in a good way. Horror audiences are, by and large, intrigued by the concept of films that make them think long after the credits roll. Jordan Peele's 2019 horror film, Us, was the topic of conversation for months while fans tried to pick apart every clue and detail to try to solve the mysteries the director left woven into his narrative. However, the mystery behind Kate's (Mackenzie Davis) fate at the end of the film being a question of whether the events are real or just a manifestation of her mind in the early stages of madness is a bit too similar to the "it's all a dream" trope. In the end, The Turning took one of the most cerebral sub-genres of horror and didn't play to its strengths.

Next: Netflix's Haunting Of Hill House Saved The Horror Sub-Genre