Young Amy finds injured union soldier Corporal John McBurney (Clint Eastwood). She takes him back to her boarding school run by Martha Farnsworth (Geraldine Page). The girls are fearful of the approaching war and the possible arrival of union soldiers. Martha decides to not turn him over to the Confederate patrols. Every female is stirred up by the arrival of McBurney. He's a charmer and a liar. Martha is both lustful and jealous. Carol (Jo Ann Harris) is a sexual 17 year old student. Edwina (Elizabeth Hartman) is the sweet innocent romantic teacher. Amy is completely infatuated with McBurney and keeps a pet turtle.
This movie has a natural Gothic romantic horror vibe. I really like the constant disturbed tone. It's a slightly different character that Eastwood is playing. The movie is playing to fear of a group of women destroying a man. I would prefer the school be much more isolated. More isolation would build up a greater sense of dread. The other possibility is to make capture a much more vicious affair. That way the dread is build up both outside the school as it slowly builds inside. Either way, the influences from the outside keep muddying up the creepy relationships in the house.
This movie has a natural Gothic romantic horror vibe. I really like the constant disturbed tone. It's a slightly different character that Eastwood is playing. The movie is playing to fear of a group of women destroying a man. I would prefer the school be much more isolated. More isolation would build up a greater sense of dread. The other possibility is to make capture a much more vicious affair. That way the dread is build up both outside the school as it slowly builds inside. Either way, the influences from the outside keep muddying up the creepy relationships in the house.