The Others (2001)

3 out of 4

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Christopher Eccleston, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Eric Sykes, Elaine Cassidy

Director: Alejandro Amenabar

Time: 104 mins

Horror films these days seem to belong into two camps: the slasher film, which relies on good-looking young stars, gore, and stupid character actions; and the supernatural one, which focuses on the psychological buildup and actual suspense. The Others is a good example of the latter genre. In scope and theme, it shares many similarities with The Sixth Sense, the blockbuster ghost story from 1999 that contained one of the best movie twists in recent memory. The Others doesn't have the same earth-shattering revelation, but it more than makes up for it with atmosphere, mood, and a decidedly eerie sense of foreboding.

Nicole Kidman stars as Grace, a woman living alone with her young children Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley) in a large mansion on the island of Jersey, off the English coast. It is 1945, and her husband Charles (Christopher Eccleston), who has been fighting in World War II, is believed to have died in action. One morning, a trio of servants - Mrs Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), Mr Tuttle (Eric Sykes), and the mute Lydia (Elaine Cassidy) - appear at her doorstep, answering an ad for household help. Grace sets some ground rules, which includes drawing shut the window curtains due to her children's allergy to bright light. Soon there appears to be a ghostly presence inside the house, with Anne talking to an invisible boy named Victor. Grace believes her daughter is lying, but begins to doubt her own sanity when the evidence of otherworldly forces becomes overwhelming. Just what is the secret behind the mansion?

Haunted house stories provide a lot of fodder for scare merchants. Just imagine the many dark and empty rooms, the long staircases, the secret passages, and the basement. While The Others does utilise some of these elements, its development is more psychological and, ultimately, unsettling. The pace is slow, yes, but the carefully nurtured atmosphere and frequent use of dull candlelight gives The Others a unique feel and keeps the interest level high. In many horror films, the audience is often left wondering why the lights aren't on. Well, in The Others, with the children's sensitivity to light, there is a legitimate reason why many of the scenes are in semi-darkness. Director Amenabar's liberal use of fog is also effective, shrouding the mansion and its surroundings in a net of perpetual mist.

The Others is not a film that aims to frighten you witless. There are some shocks, to be sure, but these are few and far between. Like The Sixth Sense, some of the happenings are more horrific psychologically than anything delivered in a physical sense. Compared with another haunted house film like 1999's The Haunting, which was full of special effects but lacked anything truly scary, The Others is a more commendable and impressive effort.

Nicole Kidman almost carries the entire film. Always on edge, yet full of love for her children, her performance is quite strong. I suppose Amenabar could have played with her a bit more and turned her into a Jack Nicholson-type character from The Shining - one whose mental state goes from bad to worse - but this would not have been in keeping with the subtle horror that pervades the film. It's not Kidman's best performance, but she's good enough to hold your attention throughout.

The supporting actors are all quite good, especially Alakina Mann, who plays Kidman's daughter. She exhibits a fine mix of minx-like qualities, youthful arrogance, and, in the end, fear. Fionnula Flanagan has the most screen time of the three servants, and she displays enough ambiguity to arouse one's suspicion as to where her allegiance lies. Look also for a cameo from Christopher Eccleston (Elizabeth, Gone in Sixty Seconds), who portrays Kidman's husband.

For such a deliberately paced film, The Others kept me intrigued throughout its hundred minute running time. This is due to a combination of a good, old-fashioned ghost story, atmospheric direction from Spaniard Amenabar, and some decent acting. It may not have the same repeat viewing value as The Sixth Sense, but in what has been a lackluster summer, The Others stands out like a breath of fresh air.

(c) Joe Wong (12 August 2001)