The Others Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: At the close of WWII, a woman and her children come to believe their house is haunted.

Review: I don't know how many times I've spoiled this movie's twist, but, before I do it again, it's definitely time to knock out a review. In essence, this is a masterful ghost story that keeps things simple yet manages to be immensely scary. The filmmakers opted for a "less is more" approach which works wonders due to the ominous tone and foreboding atmosphere established within the setting. If that weren't enough, the intrigue is heavy as we see an ongoing mystery building up in the background. And, of course, what pulls it all together is that fantastic twist that leaves the viewer satisfied with a memorable payoff.

To quickly run down the story...we have Nicole Kidman playing an eccentric mother living in a huge mansion with her sickly children. Not gonna lie, there is some next level, milf of the millennium shit going on here. As WWII reaches its end, the family awaits the return of the father, but, instead, they are met with 3 shady characters who wish to become the help for the mansion; this includes an old man, old woman, and a mute girl. Since the previous workers quit out of the blue, the mother readily welcomes their assistance. Not long after the help's arrival, the children begin whispers about ghosts in the house which the mother eventually experiences as well. As the help lurk in the background, fully aware of what is really happening, the mother tries to come to grips with the possibility that the house is haunted. When the father does come home and disappears shortly thereafter, the family learns that the help are actually ghosts and hid their own graves from the mother. However, still trying to figure out what phenomenon she's been experiencing, the mother meets "the others" that have supposedly haunted her house. As it turns out, the "ghosts" were the current residents of the home trying to communicate with the spirits of the house. In other words, the mother and the children are also ghosts--she and the kids are the ones actually haunting the house! The film ends with the family coming to terms with their otherworldly situation while the current residents bail on living in a haunted house. Talk about catharsis.

First and foremost, much of this film's success can be attributed to effective use of atmosphere. The dark corridors, the candlelit rooms, the thick fog surrounding the home...this sense of dread and claustrophobia are crafted beautifully. Adding to this is how authentic everything feels--from the set designs to the props right down to the clothing. Aesthetically, this is how you depict a haunted house story properly. Not to be outdone, the actors, especially Ms. Kidman, give moving performances that make this all feel believable. You'd think having the kids in prominent roles would be a huge failure in the waiting, but they're surprisingly quite good and not annoying. Another important aspect is how seriously the actors take the material; this helps make the fear and paranoia influence the audience. As I alluded to, the minimalism of actual "ghost" sightings by the audience enhances the buildup; you are waiting to finally get a glimpse. This doesn't mean there aren't cool set pieces strewn throughout. Obviously most would have seen the old woman in the veil from the trailer or parodies. There is also only one, real jump scare so the film fully relies on true fear--a feat worthy of note. Lastly, the twist is presented amazingly. You don't really see it coming, but the hints are undeniably there; this aspect makes re-watching the film a worthwhile pursuit as well. Sure, the reveal is not 100% original, but the style and way of going about it is unique.

Although these are mostly nitpicks, there are a few problems that should be addressed. Admittedly, there are a plethora of contrivances that must exist for the plot to get rolling. The only one that makes me think deeper is the implied notion that all ghosts in the location will occupy the same space. If that's true then thank god they're in a giant ass mansion! Imagine all these people dying in a one bedroom apartment! Talk about fucking HELL! I do feel the father's return creates problems and kind of hurts the pacing. If he's doomed to roam the battlefield or whatever, how come he could come home right when the mother tried to escape? By the way, I do love the way the fog gets thicker as she tries to leave the limits of her eternity. Anyway, are we to believe the father came home just to tap dat ass (which I totally sympathize with!)? Then there is the issue of reality-warping. The whole "where are the curtains" aspect makes no sense if the ghosts see what they want to see. Likewise, the characters are shown eating...does this mean the food re-materializes or what? Don't get me wrong, we could debate reasons for everything or explain away confusion, but I want to acknowledge the film does have its flaws.

Overall, this is a must-see for horror fans, and I think casual audiences would still appreciate the merits of the story. The mystery is intriguing and you really want to see where the story is heading; and not to disappoint, the destination is just as engrossing as the journey. The look of the film is flawless and the actors turn in commendable performances that help to captivate the viewer. While there may have been a few plot oversights, the story is first-rate, worthy of classic status.

Notable Moment: When Victor is seemingly in the room with Anne and Nicholas. This is just such a powerful scare despite showing almost nothing.

Final Rating: 8.5/10