 For the literary theorist Thomas S. Hischak , The Turn of the Screw is a weak adaptation of the novella , with poor acting which can be " ascribed to the trite , anachronistic dialogue and leaden direction " . He likens the film to In a Dark Place ( 2006 ) , another film adaptation of James 's novella , which focuses upon the supposed sexual aspects of the story . For Hischack , the 2009 film presents a governess who is not successful in repressing her sexuality . Ann 's fantasies of her own sexual encounters with the Master , as well as her visions of the sexual encounters between Quint and Jessel , " are among the many obvious and clumsy aspects of this adaptation " . Like Sborgi , Hischak sees little ambiguity in the film , calling it a " misguided adaptation that likes to spell things out for the viewer " . 
