The Others


The Others, like its popular predecessors The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects, keeps us (here, literally) in the dark for the entire movie and then, just before everyone packs up to leave, throws a shocking curve our way making us rethink everything we have just seen; and when it is done right, leaves us pleasantly choked by the feeling that "they got me." I boldly venture that The Others tops both of these aforementioned films, at least in the slyness of the gimmick. The zinger ending is as clever as you could ask for- and if not for some rather trying "if….then how could….?" questions, you should go home with the sense that everything wrapped up nicely. I wanted to start this review by talking about the ending because not only it is evidently the reason the movie was made, but it is also the reason you are sure to hear The Sixth Sense mentioned each time this movie will be discussed ….and I just want to let you know that it is all 100% accurate. If you liked that movie you will like this one. Both are nuanced, at times slow, but ultimately haunting and utterly fulfilling.

 

Grace (Nicole Kidman), with her snow-white neck and tightly bound blonde hair, is the mother of two young children living in an old remote European mansion in Jersey (I guess there is one in Europe as well, but it looks a bit nicer and generally more elegant than ours). They await the return of the father of the family who is yet to make his way home from World War II which ended two years earlier. We are made aware that something, referred to as "it", happened at one point in the history of this unpleasant little family, but the audience can only helplessly speculate what "it" might have been and how horrible "it" really was. 

Three strangers appear at the house and are taken in as the new nanny, tailor/ mute freaky person, and groundskeeper (The lovable and huggable Mr. Tuttle!), but we know something is afoot the second this eerie trio make their way toward the house in a shot that could have come straight out of a low-budget PBS British Mini-Series. Who are these people? What do they know about the house and the "intruders", who we are subsequently introduced to, that torment Grace's son, a quivering and delicate James Bentley, and hassle her precocious daughter, played by Alakina Mann- who is in every way like a young Kirsten Dunst . These two first time actors do tremendous work here and our belief in the film's atmosphere is carried by their affecting performances.

Director Aljenadro Amenabar seems to know his way around the haunted house genre. He pulls overhead at the right moments, uses mirrors and shadows effectively (a must in this arena), and holds back just enough to let the frightening moments have you gasping. Just enough to catch the audience peeking through cupped hands when the camera creeps. With a believable enough plot contrivance, Amenabar is able to keep the movie very dim and tense with Kidman providing plenty of icy attitude, while being suffocated by the unyielding stress of her situation. She has great difficulty relating to her children while trying to raise them by the words of the Bible of which they feel she hypocritically preaches to them. Kidman deserves some acknowledgement come awards time for a moving performance that incorporates a mother's overwhelming love for her children, as well as the sorrow associated with being unable to be a competent guardian they truly need.

While I wholly intend for this to be a positive review, some minor areas of the film could have used some touching up and when a movie has as much potential as this one, it is all the more annoying. Problem numero uno is when the script (or it may have been Amenabar) forces the movie to be spooky, when, according to the story, (as we are in enlightened) there was absolutely nothing scary going on. This particular point is mainly in reference to the three new comers who are constantly being allowed that last side-ways glance to tell us to keep an eye on them. I will of course not reveal whom they turn out to be- but once you know, you may feel cheated by all those extraneous (and if I may say, clichéd) final devious insinuations.

Aggravating drawback part deux is the manner in which the film treats its (I mean this) special ending. Instead of giving the audience the credit of taking it in and appreciating the concept in our own individual way, we have it explained to us with unnaturally delivered detail not once or twice, but three separate times. It was a case of some giddy scriptwriter making sure everyone (even those of the thickness of mind) could adequately appreciate how sneaky and witty they were.

Beyond my personal hang-ups, which should probably just be ignored, this movie is a winner in a number of ways. If you want to be scared and tantalized one night then definitely spend the night with either Seth or Isaac, but if they are busy -then see this movie. It'll give you something to think about in the shower or in the bathroom in general. Also, for better or worse depending on how much you like sleeping, it will come back to haunt you when you lie in bed at night.

- Bang Jordan comments