The Others

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Christopher Eccleston
Directed by: Alejandro Amenabar
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Horror
2001

Times Seen:
Tim: 2


Summary:In a strange old house, a mother (Nicole Kidman) lives with her two children. She hires some help to clean and cook while she teaches her children at home. Her daughter and son suffer from a rare condition where they cannot be exposed to any light, or they will die, which results in the house constantly coaked in darkness save for candlelight. Now, there appears to be others living in the house, although they are unable to be seen and only rarely heard. This family must now deal with the possibility that they are not alone in the house.

Review:

Tim: This is a good suspense/horror film, although as you will discover, its more supenseful than horror- it is a twisting tale with surprises throughout, but not much is actually seen or heard. The cries and gasps mostly come from atmosphere and the fear that can come with wondering what is happening without actually seeing anything (like The Blair Witch Project).

Nicole Kidman does an excellent job throughout. She manages to be likeable, yet really creepy in a number of ways. She spends a great deal of the film looking around, afraid. While this may seem a waste of her talent, she plays this role dutifully and does a good job. In a number of scenes, the scariest part of is simply knowing that she is afraid. That requires a good bit of acting.

Her two kids were cast perfectly for their respective roles. Her daughter has just the right mix of innocence yet meanness, and her son is perfect as a sacred but strange boy himself. They add enormously to the creepy atmosphere of the film. I have always said a horror movie needs a creepy little kid (like The Ring). This one has two.

The Others is a pretty good film that will keep you frightened and guessing throughout. It builds up to a very scary and surprising ending. This movie really stays with you. Many films are completely forgettable- even several hours after viewing them. This one will stick out in your mind, long after you leave the theatre (or your living room). It's worth picking up.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Ring, The Haunting, The Blair Witch Project, Thirteen Ghosts, House on Haunted Hill, Moulin Rogue