Genres of every different type of art have a particular style, theme and other distinguishing aspects. Moreover, both literary and cinematic genres have particular characteristics that are undoubtedly attributed to a particular genre. Romanticism is concerned with nature and the self and similarly, the Victorian era focuses on the ideal man and emphasizes the importance of conventions. Ghost stories, or scary stories, is another genre and it too has characteristics that help delineate the intentions of the author/director. One characteristic of a scary story is successfully implementing fear within the context. This can be done many ways but the facet that will be the focus of this paper is elusiveness.

The two examples that will be used to help demonstrate how elusiveness of information can be used as a scare tactic is the novel by Henry James, "The Turn of the Screw" and the very similar 1961 movie "The Innocents", which was directed by Jack Clayton. The plots and characters can also be an angle that can be used to scare but I think these two mediums use the anticipation and evasiveness of information to help aid in scaring.

Elusiveness is used as a scaring device because it leaves the reader or audience off-guard to uncertainty and anticipation. This is evident throughout the entire novel and movie and can be seen in the earliest of instances. The novel opens with a group telling scary stories and a boy, named Douglas, describes a story that becomes the story of a governess and her haunted experience.  The narration is then through the writing of the governess and by doing this, the reader experiences the events that take place through the eyes of the governess. This is significant because not only does the reader form similar concerns as to those of the governess but also because the reliability of her writing becomes questionable. Through this, James creates an eerie atmosphere.

Similarly, "The Innocents" creates fear often through the movements of the camera angles and colors, despite being black and white. The film starts out in blackness and although this is seemingly simple, it foreshadows the rest of the film. To clarify, Clayton supplements fear into the movie by not showing scenes and withholding information that, if more detailed, would alleviate some anticipation and anxiety.

The first few moments of the empty screen is followed by the quivering and shaking hands of the governess as she speaks of saving the children. At this point, the audience is unaware of the situation and left questioning it. Shortly after, and back to the present, Flora randomly announces that Miles will return home and to the surprise of the audience, a letter of his expulsion from school comes in the mail the next day. This is odd not only because Flora displays unknown and eerie qualities of knowing the return of Miles but also because Miles is supposedly a kind and well behaved boy.

In both the movie and the novel, the thickening of the plot is when the actual elusiveness has the frightening effects but two significant aspects should also be considered. The movie is being viewed in the third person point of view whereas the novel is through the eyes of the governess. The point of view is important because in the novel, you can experience the governess's thoughts and concerns first hand and in writing. On the other hand, the movie shows the thoughts and concerns through the obvious fright and preoccupation of Ms. Giddens' expressions. One example of this is when Miles is reciting the poem. In the movie, Miles is reciting a seemingly ordinary poem but as the governess starts to listen more intently, she discovers the intention of the poem and the audience can see the fear creep across her face, whereas everything seems normal to Mrs. Grose. This occurs because Ms. Giddens is realizing what is going on although the details are not evident. The frightening aspect comes into play because everything seems normal on the outside but the children are withholding important information. In the book, the governess begins to realize the eeriness of the kids and although we can’t see her face, she describes her concerns. At first, we are unaware of the past events that plague the haunted manor and through the prying of Mrs. Grose, the governess learns of the ill past. This is important because the governess does not learn the complete story of the past and thus, the reader, as well as the governess, is left to question the severity of the situation and also form inquiries leading to the information. The information she retrieves and the additional information she yearns for, take possession of her. The governess is still functional although she devotes herself to saving the children.  In doing so, she corners them and questions them but she is unable to retrieve anything substantial. It is this very act of stubbornness and evasiveness from the children that help shape and fuel the plot.

Additionally, in the movie, Ms. Giddens corners Miles for questioning and he is extremely defiant. The camera is also influential in this scene because as she is integrating Miles, the face of Qunit appears in a nearby window. Miles refuses to admit to any knowledge of information and the camera zooms into his face as he laughs in a frightening manner. It is not until moments later as she chases after him that she eventually succeeds in making Miles admit to the presence of Qunit. It is in this scene that Miles, after having confessed to seeing Qunit, dies. It is unclear why he dies and this absence of information leaves the audience, and similarly the reader of the novel, in question as to result of his death.

In conclusion, it is difficult to describe the effect that the scarcity of information has on the movie and novel, although I think it is clearly present. To think that if the entirety of the background was known, then the mysterious aspect of plot would not be to the extent of that which it is. In some sense, the audience or reader is left questioning and anticipating the unfolding events, causing a similar anxiety that is felt by the governess. The fear that is implemented in the novel and movie is provoked through the chasing of information and the finding of the malevolent source fueling the haunted manor of Bly.