Atmospheric chiller that sees a mother raise her children alone in a dark, creepy house on Jersey after World War Two.
Certificate
Duration104 mins
Review by
The Others is a supernatural thriller, which manipulates our assumptions before a major plot twist. Located in a remote Victorian mansion on the isle of Jersey, post war, Grace (Nicole Kidman) and her two children Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley) experience supernatural activity. Grace's husband Charles (Christopher Eccleston) is assumed dead in service of the war, however Grace and the children are hopeful for his return.
Grace is a very protective mother, her two children suffer from a photosensitivity disease meaning they cannot be exposed to anymore than candle light. Grace ropes in the help of a trio of servants, with a strict set of peculiar rules, however they are the catalyst for paranormal activity to take place.
The director manages to build up tension and suspense and maintain it through small things rather than one major event. Throughout the film there is a dark atmosphere which creates chills as haunting music descends down the telescoping corridors. Your imagination is rattled by this horror plot. The Others is loosely based on the novella 'The Turn Of The Screw' by an American writer Henry James. The stories start similar but they take completely different plots at the end.
The Others is full of self closing doors and self playing pianos, its gripping and psychologically manipulating. It has a great structure building tension throughout, just like any good horror film.