The Others (2001)


The Others is one of the most memorable horror films of the 2000s.  That isn't hard as that first decade and a half of the new century was not exactly teeming with frightening gems, but The Others stood out not just because of the twist ending - which one can see coming, as writer and director Alejandro Amenábar doesn't take pains to hide it - but because of the atmosphere and the quiet, intense performances from everyone involved.  It was a throwback to movies like The Innocents and The Changeling, heavily influenced like the former was by the William James novel The Turn of the Screw.  Amenábar puts his own spin on it, but it proved that a horror film could still be effective even at that point even without a blaring nu-metal soundtrack and frequent jump scares.

Grace (Nicole Kidman) lives in an old mansion on the island of Jersey, the only part of the UK that was occupied by Germany.  It is 1945, the war has just ended, and her husband Charles (Christopher Eccleston) has not returned.  She lives with her two children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), both of whom have severe photosensitivity to the point where sunlight may kill them.  Into their lives come three servants who claim to have been previously with the house: Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), serving as the kids' nanny an the chief housekeeper, menial worker Lydia (Elaine Cassidy) and gardener Mr. Tuttle (Eric Sykes).  

Grace's relationship with her children is rocky due to something that happened previously and the absence of their father.  Tensions mount when Anne starts communicating with a boy named Victor (Alexander Vince) and claiming to be seeing visions of an old woman (Renée Asherson) as well.  Although she doesn't believe them at first Grace begins to realize that the home may be haunted and fears that she and her children may be in danger.  

While the supernatural is a major underlying element in The Others the audience is presented a number of mysteries to unravel rather than going through the usual haunted house routine.  Whatever happened to the children has traumatized them to the point where even they disagree on what occurred, while the servants seem to be a bit more knowledgeable about what is going on in the house than they let on.  They often seem to be there to provide aid to Grace and the children to help them get over whatever the event was in the past. 

The Others is Amenábar's first English film, having translated it from his native Spanish.  It was filmed in Spain and won awards there despite not being in Spanish.  It also was one of the top grossing films of 2001 in the U.S. despite being a foreign production, a fact that was pretty much hidden during advertisements that emphasized a starring role for Nicole Kidman, who had just come off a hit musical with Moulin Rouge and was constantly in the news due to her deteriorating relationship with Tom Cruise.  Thus, this quiet, somewhat unassuming movie became an event film, and that helped draw in audiences that otherwise may have ignored it.

It was a surprise for me at the time as I expected something a bit more routine.  While the twist may have been entertaining for some I have enjoyed every viewing of this movie for the cinematography, most of which takes place inside the house, and the performances of Kidman, the children and Fionnula Flanagan.  The reveal of the secret is well done but, unlike other movies of its type, it doesn't leave the viewer distracted by putting together clues.  I have always thought Kidman is wasted in much of what she does, relegated to being a bit of cheesecake in too many of the movies she has been in, when she has been a serious actor to contend with going all the way back to Dead Calm. 

Despite its more old-fashioned tone The Others is never boring.  Along with the family drama there is enough of the supernatural that seeps through at just the right moments to keep all the mysteries going, including an awkward return home by a shellshocked Charles.  Still, it is a rich, rewarding film, that thankfully has not been forgotten. 

The Others (2001)
Time: 104 minutes
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Christopher Eccleston
Director: Alejandro Amenábar

 

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