The Turning

The Turning

Year: 2013

Runtime: 180 mins

Language: English

Directors: Warwick Thornton, Marieka Walsh

Drama

This cinematic experience showcases seventeen Australian directors, each contributing a chapter inspired by Tim Winton’s acclaimed novel. The interwoven stories paint a vivid portrait of a coastal community, exploring pivotal moments that reshape ordinary lives. Characters grapple with second thoughts, regret, and shifting relationships, leading to irreversible changes and new directions for everyone involved.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Turning yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Turning (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Turning (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1994

The story takes place in the mid-1990s, a period characterized by a shift towards modernity but still retaining some traditional societal norms. Technology is limited, with reliance on landline phones and diaries. The era’s cultural backdrop influences the characters’ behaviors and the film’s suspenseful, atmospheric style.

Location

Fairchild Estate, countryside

The film is set at the remote and historic Fairchild Estate, a large, old manor house surrounded by lush grounds. Known for its mysterious past and eerie atmosphere, the estate plays a central role in the haunting and supernatural events that unfold. Its isolation amplifies the sense of unease and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

🏰 Historic 🌿 Isolated 🖤 Haunted

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

Main Characters – The Turning (2013)

Meet the key characters of The Turning (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Kate Mandell (Mackenzie Davis)

Kate is a dedicated and somewhat anxious young woman tasked with babysitting Flora. Her interactions reveal her compassionate nature yet also her vulnerability to the estate’s haunting influence. Her increasing paranoia and fear reflect her internal battle between reality and hallucination.

👩‍🏫 Tutor 🌀 Anxious 🔍 Investigative

Miles (Finn Wolfhard)

Miles is Flora’s reserved and often stoic brother, whose troubled past is hinted at through his behavior and expulsion from school. His aloof demeanor and dark hints suggest an influence from the estate’s supernatural history.

🧒 Child 🖤 Troubled 🔒 Reserved

Mrs. Gorse (Barbara Marten)

Mrs. Gorse serves as the estate’s caretaker, appearing pragmatic and somewhat protective of the children. She seems to harbor secrets about the estate’s dark past and her own complicity in its mysteries.

🧹 Caretaker 🛡️ Protective 🔮 Secrets

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

Major Themes – The Turning (2013)

Explore the central themes of The Turning (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕯️ Supernatural

The movie explores themes of ghosts, spirits, and the paranormal, focusing on the unseen forces haunting the estate. The presence of spirits like Miss Jessel and Quint drives the suspense and mystery, blurring the line between reality and the spiritual realm.

🚪 Secrets

Secrets from the past pervade the narrative, especially related to Miss Jessel and Quint. The characters’ uncovering of these truths propels the plot, revealing hidden histories that have profound impacts on their lives and perceptions.

🧠 Madness

Mental instability and hallucinations are central to the story, notably Kate’s psychological struggle. The film delves into the thin line between sanity and madness, heightened by the eerie environment and supernatural encounters.

Last Updated: August 05, 2025 at 06:53

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Psychological horror stories with unreliable narrators like The Turning

Characters question their sanity amidst supernatural events and dark secrets.If you liked The Turning, explore more movies where characters grapple with their sanity in the face of supernatural phenomena. These films create a similar mood of claustrophobic dread, unreliable perceptions, and a bleak atmosphere, perfect for fans of complex psychological thrillers.

unsettlingclaustrophobicpsychologicalatmosphericoppressiveanxioushaunting

Narrative Summary

Stories typically involve an outsider entering an isolated, secret-laden space, often a house or estate. As they uncover a tragic past, their own grip on reality weakens, leading to an ambiguous climax where the true nature of the haunting—supernatural or psychological—is left unsettlingly open to interpretation.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a core premise: using a haunted setting as a crucible for psychological decay. They prioritize atmospheric dread over jump scares, feature unreliable protagonists, and explore themes of grief and trauma through a lens of creeping supernatural ambiguity.

Slow burn atmospheric dramas with bleak endings like The Turning

A heavy, melancholic mood builds inevitably towards profound loss.Discover movies that capture the heavy, melancholic vibe of The Turning. These films share a slow, deliberate pace, a dark tone, and a focus on building an oppressive atmosphere that leads to a tragic or bleak conclusion, ideal for viewers who appreciate deeply mood-driven narratives.

melancholichauntingatmosphericoppressivetragicheavybleak

Narrative Summary

The narrative journey is less about plot twists and more about the gradual accumulation of emotional weight. Characters often grapple with past traumas or inescapable circumstances, and the story unfolds with a fatalistic rhythm, emphasizing mood and character deterioration over conventional action, leading to an emotionally heavy and bleak resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared commitment to a specific mood and pacing. The primary similarity is the experience of a slow-building, atmospheric dread that results in a deeply sad or tragic outcome, prioritizing emotional resonance and a consistent, oppressive tone.

Unlock the Full Story of The Turning

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Turning in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Turning is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Turning Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Turning, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Turning Summary

The Turning Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Turning with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Turning Timeline

The Turning Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Turning that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Turning Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Turning

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Turning: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Turning