thriller. It's atmospheric, stylish, and spooky. The plot is well
thought-out and its secrets and mysteries are unveiled slowly.
Unfortunately, the movie moves at a glacial pace, the story progresses slowly
and threatens to lull the viewer to sleep (Those drifting off won't stay out
for long - one of many "scare" moments will jerk them back to wakefulness).
The film is set on one of the Channel Islands in 1945. Grace (Nicole Kidman)
is the mother of two childern in a fog-shrouded, secluded country manor
house. Her husband is off fighting the Nazis in the final days of World War
II. Her childern, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bently) suffer
from extreme light-sensitivity and must live out their lives in the shadows,
reading and playing by candle and fire light. As the film opens Grace
welcomes three servants to help her run the sprawling manor. She gives the
servants a few quirky rules about the running of the house, like closing and
locking each door before opening the next door as they go from room to room.
However, Grace's home is no ordinary place in which to live; soon strange,
spectral things begin to happen.
The Others is one of those films where the atmosphere is so strong you can
almost feel it - not necessarily a bad thing for a haunted house movie. The
movie makes good use of the shadows in the darkened house. Sound is also an
important part of the overall sensory palette - distant screams, a piano
playing, the ominous approach of footsteps are supplemented by the film's use
of silence in setting the suspense. There is no denying that there are times
when The Others is capable of raising one's nape hairs. Nicole Kidman is
asked to carry the movie. The camera loves her, framing her like a '40s
movie star, but there are times when she's too cool and other instances when
she lapses into histrionics. The rest of the cast is an ensemble of
character actors and provides just enough of the neccessary support for the
film and no more.
Fans of fast-paced action might be frustrated by the film's moody dreamline
pacing, but they'll be rewarded by the intriguing twist and surprise finale.
(It's possible to guess The Others' secret, but I won't ruin that experience
for the clever viewer.) All in all, The Others is an English ghost story as
traditional as mist on the moors. It has an interesting storyline, but isn't
very involving.
Rating: 2 1/2 stars (out of 4).