 The critical response to The Turn of the Screw was mixed . The film was praised by Matt Baylis , writing in The Express , as one of the better adaptations of James 's story . The Times 's David Chater , although he did not consider the film " terrifying " or " suppurate [ d ] in evil " , found it " never less than absorbing " , suspecting this would be particularly so for viewers unfamiliar with the story . The Daily Telegraph 's Simon Horsford felt that The Turn of the Screw " might not work on all levels but it is an unsettling interpretation nonetheless " . By contrast , Tom Sutcliffe , writing in The Independent , was unimpressed with the film , considering James 's novel to have been " comprehensively vandalised " , while Richard Whittaker , writing in The Austin Chronicle , felt that the film was " a particular and peculiar misfire " from Welch . The Turn of the Screw was chosen as " pick of the day " in The Sunday Times , despite the reviewer , Victoria Segal , expressing her view that the film was " far from perfect " . But she added that the flaws could be overlooked , and although there are times " when it grinds through the gears with a clunk and clatter " , the " spirit " of James 's story is retained . 
