I first heard of this film while watching the The Golden Globes 2001 when Nicole Kidman was nominated for dramatic actress in the horror story ’’The Others.’’ Though she didnt win an award for this film, I was keen to watch it & am glad I did. Since this is a suspense film, I won’t reveal the end but just the story that leads to shocking end
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The Story:
The time is 1940’s, world war II is on. We are introduced to Grace (Nicole Kidman) whose husband is away at the war & is missing. A mourning Grace is left behind alone to live in a huge house & tend to her two ailing kids : daughter Anne & son Nicholas. The kids suffer from a rare disease where they should never be exposed to sunlight, failing this would result the kids breaking out in sores and blisters and then stop breathing and then die within minutes. Hence, the doors and curtains must always be closed. Grace has to be extra cautious in taking care of her kids in sucha a big house. Finding it difficult to tackle this she puts an advt for servants, in response to which, some people come to her door offering their services. Grace is only to happy to hire them, as servants, maid, cook & gardener. Little does she know that now life will not be the same for her.
Mysterious things start happening and the strange behaviour of her servants make Grace very nervous. She also hears noises coming from the upper floor but cannot find anything there. The windows and curtains in the house keep opening and closing by themselves. Things become worse when Anne starts complaining of seeing a small boy, who also lives in their house. She also draws a sketch of a family, claiming to having seen them together.
Frightened by these sudden events, Grace sets out to search her whole house but cannot find anything except an old family album. And then one day Grace’s long missing husband shows up but he has changed. Unable to bear all this, Grace panics & opens the curtains of her house, hoping that light will bring some explanation. What she then discovers is a deep, dark secret that would haunt Grace & her family..............forever.
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The film / Performances :
Writen & directed by Alejandro Amenabar this film is a different psychoshocker, it has a great story & keeps the tension built through the film. Since her kids cannot be in sunlight the whole film has a dark look with lotsa flickering candles & this morbid dark atmosphere only adds up to the tension in the film, in a haunting & chilling way. Every scene is captivating and the film moves at an intense pace, keeping the viewer on edge of the seat.
By the time, we realise what is wrong with the house, there is another shocker that leaves you wondering.........long after you’ve watched the film. The surprising end is disturbing & even though it seems to be ’inspired’ from another famous film [won’t tell which one coz it would be easy to guess the end], this film’s end gives a genuine scare & leaves the viewer saddened, at the sametime.
Nicole Kidman who became famous with her seductress role in Moulin Rouge has a totally contrast role in this film. Here we see Nicole, as the mourning wife & over protective mom & she is superb! She looks beautiful & this is surely one of the best performances she has ever given. She is the backbone of the film as Nicole does full justice to the needs of the character. She is well supported by the other cast: the kids & the actors playing her servants in the film.
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My word:
I watch all horror movies, be it the senseless ’scream’ type films or the simple understated psychoshockers. ’’The Others’’ falls into the category of a psychoshocker where the film leaves an impact on mind of the viewer. This film is not like the other horror flicks where we see endless murders, sex scenes, swearg & never dying ghosts. ’’The Others’’ is sophisticated suspense thriller which keeps the viewer guessing till the end !
Its gonna be on Star Movies - Friday 9pm, so don’t miss it!! Its fun to watch horror movies at nite ;)
PS: if u watched or will watch the film, u’d understand the title of my review :)