“Sooner Or Later They Will Find You.”
Movie: The Others (2001)
Cast:
Nicole Kidman………………Grace Stewart
Fionnula Flanagan…………...Ms Bertha Mills
Alakina Mann………………..Anne Stewart
James Bentley………………..Nicholas Stewart
Christopher Eccleston………..Charles Stewart
Elaine Cassidy………………..Lydia
Renee Asherson………………Old Lady
Aldo Grilo…………………….Gardener
Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Co-Produced by: Tom Cruise
The Plot:
Set in the last part of the second World War, in a haunted house on the Isle of Jersey, ‘The Others’ has that spine tingling, effect movie goers just love being subjected to. The movie begins with Nicole Kidman’s character, Grace Stewart hiring help in the form of three strangers who arrive at her doorstep conveniently one morning.
The plot unravels to show Grace as an unassuming yet conscientious mother of two who lives in a spooky old house awaiting the return of her husband who’s fighting in the war. Her two little children, Anne & Nicholas being photosensitive, Grace and her staff are forced to spend the daytime in carefully locked and darkened rooms. Hence Grace’s strict instructions to her staff that, all the curtains always be drawn and that ’’no door is to be opened before the previous one is closed.’’
Although the narration does tend to be slow at times and makes the viewer want to hit the ‘bright’ button on his / her remote more often than once, the wait for the goose bump inducing scenes proves worthwhile after all. For example, the scene where, Anne freaks her little brother Nicholas out in their bedroom at night, while trying to show him the ‘other’ little boy in the room, who keeps pulling the curtains aside to let the much-dreaded light in. Or the one where, Grace runs into a room to find a bent, milky-eyed old woman in her daughter’s dress, clutching on to a beheaded doll! (I’m still spooked by that one!)
Why is it that Anne is the only one who can see ‘The Others’…….the apparitions of a man, a woman, a little boy named Victor and the blind old lady (who incidentally she sees the most number of times)?
Why do the three strangers show up at Grace’s doorstep out of the blue?
Why does Lydia, the mute maid choose silence over words?
Is Grace paranoid and given to hallucinations?
Why doesn’t she believe Anne?
These and many other questions will, invariably pop up in your head, while watching this thriller i.e. if you aren’t too busy chewing your nails, and hiding your face behind a pillow!
Performances:
Nicole Kidman turns in a brilliant performance as the meticulous and delusional Grace Stewart. She uses her eyes and body language beautifully to convey her helplessness at the goings on in the haunted house.
Alakina Mann as Anne, makes good use of the opportunity given to her in portraying the brave, strong-willed girl who sees what nobody else can.
The rest of the cast is more or less present only to support these two central characters. Nevertheless, they do a great job of it.
Sales Pitch:
All said and done, this movie is a must-see for all those who enjoy movies belonging to the horror/thriller genre and love a good twist-in-the-tale ending. And the best way to watch it is to:
“Close Every Door, Turn Off Every Light, And Look For….’The Others’.”
Enjoy!