"THE OTHERS"


Ok, I've reviewed a few films that kicked my butt. We're talkin' movies that just LOVE to give their secrets away and screw up reviewers like me (The 6th Sense comes to mind). Well, to my joy, I have another film that stymies me (aka flucks me up as to how the hell I can review and not spew the story). So I'll try to be careful……yikeage!

Let's begin by stating that it's a movie about a haunted mansion in England during WWII. In this big ass place lives 2 young children and their mother, Nicole Kidman. Bascially they're hiding from the Germans in this place and hoping Papa comes back from the war.

Well, considering the size of the place (we're talkin' one gothic lookin', several pilar holdin', 3 story sucker), Kidman hires 3 helpers to care for it, BUT she has a RULE!:

The house must remain dark at all times because the children begin melting when exposed to light any brighter than a candle. Therefore, all curtains remain closed, all doors must be locked behind you, all lights off….you can relate if you live in California.

The stage is now set for some hair raising happenings….in the DARK-AS-HELL-GHOSTS-COME-GET mansion.

So, what happens????????

Well, some cool caca, but I can't give this stuff away, so I'll at least build up the suspense for ya by describing our characters.

First there's Mummy (Nicole Kidman). She's a high strung, nervous as hell religious freak who adores her kids (no, she's not Southern Baptist) and she doesn't believe in ghosts.

Next are the children. Both are quite intelligent. Sure they remain indoors 24/7 because of their meltness, but Mum has been teaching and preaching to them daily.
We have a little boy and girl.
The boy is the scaredy poop and clings to his mummy.
On the other hand, the girl is quite ferocious (aka little snot) whoback talks and questions her mum and scares her brother poopless. She also lies to her mother by claiming to have seen and talked with a little boy named 'Victor'. She must be lying since mummy can't see Victor. In fact, Mummy gets real angry when her daughter draws a picture of the other people she sees in the house: A Dad, Mom, Victor, and an old witch.
As a result, Mummy punishes the girl for telling such fibs…….until Mummy hears the voices HERSELF.

Well, Mum can't go insane herself so she mentions it all to the head housekeeper. Guess what? Yep…. Ms. Housekeepie also hears the voices, however, she, along with the other 2 helpers, are a bit odd themselves……..

That's about as far I can go. But I will say this……this film offers several unique suggestions/theories on the subject of the supernatural. It'll keep you wondering 'what the hell was that?' and 'where the lleh is this going?'.

MY GRADE: B


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