Film Review The Others

The Others
(2001) Movie
Review
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31 January 2002 by NIX | Horror Movie News, Horror Movie Reviews, Reviews
Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenabars The Others came along at the perfect time. The spooky horror film
entered the marketplace at a time when teenybopper slasher flicks and supposedly horror films that relied on
CGI ghosts were gobbling up money and turning the minds of hapless teenagers into jelly. A movie like The
Others would have fitted in perfectly had it been released in the 50s or 60s, thus making it something of a
throwback film in 2001. As written and filmed by Amenabar, The Others stresses mood and atmosphere over
cheap scares.
The film stars Nicole Kidman as Grace, an Englishwoman living with her two children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and
Nicholas (James Bentley), both of whom suffers from a rare disease that makes them allergic to sunlight. The
family lives in an old spooky house somewhere in the English countryside, a place constantly besieged by fog.
The children, we are told, can die if exposed to the sunlight for too long, and because of this rare illness, the
house is always kept darken with long drapes over windows and there can never be two doors opened at once
lest they risk accidental exposure to sunlight.
When we first see Grace and her family, they are looking for new domestic help. We learn that their last help has
mysteriously quit and disappeared. Or at least thats what were told. Enter Mrs. Mills and Mr. Tuttle, two elderly
domestics who arrives at Graces door one day with a mute girl to offer their services. Grace is surprised to see
them, but realizing that she needs help to care for her children and the house, offers the trio employment. And
thats when things start to go wrong.
The Others is a spooky, moody film, oozing with atmosphere and possible chills. I say possible because almost
nothing is shown onscreen and almost everything, from the chills to the appearance of ghosts to ghostly events,
are seen slightly out of frame or completely out of frame. We hear, feel, and sense more than we actually see
anything happen. The movie relies on the imagination of the audience as well as its characters to scare us. There
are scenes that make the hair on ones neck stand up, and not once does a knife-wielding maniac in a hockey
mask show up, and there are no corpses or bloody body to be seen.
The credit goes to writer/director Amenabar, who creates a whole world within Graces home, complete with its
own rhythms. Much of the movie takes place within the many rooms, dens, kitchen, and attic rooms of the house.
Stairs and doors creak, footsteps are heard from the floors above and below, and chairs and curtains are moved
unexpectedly, all of it taking place slightly or completely out of frame.
Amenabar is not looking for cheap scares here. He doesnt need it, and the movie comes across as sophisticated
and even more unnerving because of the decision. The scares, when they do come, work not because were hit
over the head with them, but because as an active participant and not just mindless viewers, Amenabar dips into
our imagination and uses our fears to scare us. It works wonders and The Others is a revelation because of it.
As Grace, Nicole Kidman gives a tremendous performance. Her Grace is at once commanding of her servants and
her children and completely vulnerable and frightened of her own life, the house, and of her anguish about her
missing husband, Charles. Grace is a dominating mother who demands total loyalty from her children and
servants, but we quickly realize that the domineering demeanor is just a facade, as the real Grace is hidden away,
her fears and doubts safe from prying eyes.
As Graces children, Bentley and Mann are downright creepy, especially Manns Anne, who claims to see ghosts
walking around the house, much to Graces disapproval and her brothers fright. The presence or is that the
imagination? of one of Annes ghosts makes up much of the movies intensely frightening moments.
The Others proves that with a lot of imagination and a skillful directing hand, a ghost story is more effective
when it doesnt bankrupt the CGI budget. Machete wielding maniacs need not apply.
Alejandro Amenabar (director) / Alejandro Amenabar (screenplay)
CAST: Nicole Kidman . Grace
Fionnula Flanagan . Mrs. Bertha Mills
Alakina Mann . Anne
James Bentley . Nicholas
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/the-others-2001-movie-review/
The Others
2001
I don't know what is more shocking to me; the fact that I saw another Nicole Kidman
movie, the fact that I liked it, or the fact that I think she did a great job. Either way, I
recommend seeing this film. "The Others" is a suspense/supernatural thriller set in stately
manor in post WWII England where devoted wife and mother Grace (Nicole Kidman)
awaits the return of her husband who was called off to the war. She has two children with
a rather unique condition, as they cannot be exposed, even in moderation, to bright light
of any kind. Especially lethal is sunlight, which is blocked out by large draperies hanging
in the dozens of rooms throughout the mansion. The servants who seek work at the home
are forewarned about opening one door without closing another door and that all rooms
they enter must have the curtains drawn. This shouldn't be a problem except there is a
person, or presence, in the home that leaves the doors open and makes noises; breaking
the much-coveted silence in the home. The servants are harshly and initially blamed but
later Grace notices that these occurrences are taking place independent of the staff
member's actions. Further puzzling to her are her children's visions of a child whom they
claim inhabits the house with his family. The son, Nicholas (James Bentley), is frightened
and the daughter, Anne (Alakina Mann) who is intrigued, is severely dissuaded against
perpetuating these stories.
What is equally suspicious is the service staff's behavior and ulterior motives, which
slowly become obvious as the story unfolds. You see that they are trying to hide, yet at
the same time reveal something to Grace, but it is almost as if they think that she can't
handle the truth, which when she sees it, will have a massive impact.
I won't go further with anymore of the story as it will spoil the surprise ending. If there
was a movie that paralleled or mirrored the suspense and thrill of "TheSixth Sense", this
is the one. There are hints and clues throughout the film, but you still don't expect it to
turn out the way it does....or perhaps you might. However, this movie keeps a constant
tension until the very end, and doesn't at all lag. Each scene builds on the next and even
though some seem not to connect with the others, it all ties together in the end. (Think of
"Pulp Fiction's plot coming full circle in the final scene.)
What I have to remark upon is the solid, riveting performance of Nicole Kidman. Her
character contained a plethora of duality in every aspect. From minute to minute her
demeanor and constitution changed. She went from being a strong, formidable woman at
one point to a scared, fragile child the next. One scene she was the stern
disciplinarian home schooling her children, and a few scenes later the doting, over
protective mother. She progressed between one facet to another with unflawed effort.
This is a true testament to her acting ability and versatility as an actress. It is rare that you
see an actress transform from scene to scene with such consistency. More aspects of her
character are discussed in the director's comments featured on the DVD, which I highly
recommend. Additionally discussed are the remarkable features of the movie, which
primarily featured the same setting and staple characters throughout the majority of the
film. This was neither monotonous nor boring and gave the viewer the much-needed
perspective of being encased in the same little world as Grace and the children are.
Once again, let me reiterate my astonishment and pleasure of this film. It is a simple film
with few special effects. The story and those executing it carry the bulk of the weight.
There are a few minor flaws, most irritating to me was the volume being inconsistent.
The characters seemed to whisper or talk softly in many of the scenes and I guess the
director didn't see fit to adjust the boom. There are also a couple scenes that either take
too long or just have little purpose, but saving those and a couple others, they are little
more than technical blemishes. See this movie at least once, and if you don't quite get it,
or even if you do, see it again. Take a bow Nicole, you've definitely earned it.
http://attrition.org/movies/theothers.html#

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