The film that probably has my favourite cinematic plot twist! Nicole Kidman and the two child actors in this film are superb. Definitely watch it!
This is an outstanding and scary ghost story. No gore, no ridiculous CGI, just atmosphere, atmosphere and more atmosphere. Director Alejandro Amenabar uses light and shadow, fog and darkness, and a very creepy old mansion to keep the viewer on the edge of his seat.
One thing is certain; the mother, Grace Stewart, is nuts. Nicole Kidman looks exquisite as the protective hen, raising her children in the dim light of candles and lamplight. After the opening credits, the movie begins with a scream and the ending shocks us with a surprise.
the real ghosts were the friends we made along the way
[6.8/10] I don’t know how much a good twist can elevate a competent but otherwise mild ghost story. The reveal that it is, in fact, Grace and her two children who are haunting this old manor, rather than being haunted within it, is a clever concept. It turns the audience’s expectations on their head, revealing that we’ve been seeing the macabre tale from the other side of the veil. In an era of movies that also featured Fight Club and The Sixth Sense, it joins in that procession with a reveal that makes us recontextualize everything we’ve seen up until that point.
The catch is that what we see up until that point isn’t especially compelling. The Others frankly might be more entertaining on rewatch, knowing what’s really going on and seeing how the film hints at its big reveal. Without the twist, it’s just a bog standard ghost story, in the vein of The Innocents and a dozen other haunted house tales before and after, without much in the way of novelty.
The basic premise, “What if we told a ghost story from the perspective of phantoms who don’t realize they’re dead,” is an intriguing one, but this movie only realizes the potential of that idea in hindsight, rendering the 90% of the runtime solid but unspectacular as an actual experience.
The movie centers on Grace, an anxious mother of two in the 1940s with bizarre rules for her children and wait staff alike. The children start reporting seeing and hearing “intruders,” and when Grace herself experiences these hauntings, it’s unclear whether spirits are afoot or if Grace’s sanity is slipping thanks to her isolation and the thought of her husband off at war. The question of What’s Really Going On:tm: is complicated by the trio of servants who are clearly keeping secrets of their own and occasionally speak in riddles or elliptical sentiments.
The problem is that much of this is fairly dull, dutifully running through the standard array of “something’s amiss in this creaky old house” beats, but rarely reaching the level of intrigue that the central idea promises. A good measure of that rests on star Nicole Kidman’s shoulders. She is far and away the center of the film, but not really up to the challenge of carrying it.
She overacts, stoops to indicating, and comes off as unconvincing in some key moments. Taken charitably, she may be going for a mannered performance in the vein of Deborah Kerr in The Innocents, but the exaggeration makes it harder to buy into the “ghosts or just insanity?” line the film seems to want to walk.
The other side of the coin is that the other two most prominent actors in the film do a superb job. Fionnula Flanagan does good work as Mrs. Mills, the head maid of the house, exuding a sense of both warmth and foreboding that neatly makes the viewer wonder exactly where she stands. Even more impressive is Alakina Mann as Grace’s daughter, Ann. The young actress conveys an intelligence, low-simmering frustration, and steadfastness that makes her a more than capable scene partner to her more experienced counterparts.
But even those performances do little to bolster the bulk of a movie that’s fairly light on scares. The few occasions where The Others goes for big frights -- Ann possessed by a seer, clomping intruders in a storage room, the servants looming in the distance -- they tend to be fine but not particularly unnerving. There’s decent meat and potatoes spook-work here, and little that’s actively bad, but little to truly make your skin crawl either.
Maybe I’m just jaded from seeing other films, released before and after this one, manage to exude that sense of something off you can’t quite put your finger on better than The Others manages to. This film seems to go for mood rather than outright scares, which is a choice that can be even more chilling than blood and guts when done right. But so much of this movie just plays as mild and staid, unable to achieve the level of suspenseful atmosphere necessary to make that tack truly succeed.
There are wisps of some interesting thematic material, though. While Kidman’s hit or miss at communicating these notions, The Others is, at base, a burrowing look into Grace’s psyche. It subtly centers on her sense of loss and abandonment with the suspicion that her husband was killed in a war she wishes he’d never left to fight. The most poetic and affecting moments of the film comes when she has to relive that loss in the afterlife, embracing him in this weigh station between planes and reckoning with her difficult emotions over losing him and his choice to leave again.
There’s also interesting notions of the afterlife at play, which blend with the aptly named Grace’s belief in God and a just world that are both tested by the grief and occupation she and her family have suffered. The film handles her resulting mental illness and grisly crime against her children tactfully and with empathy, adding emotional weight to the ultimate reveal beyond the simple “Whoa, that’s a neat twist” of it all.
There’s just not necessarily enough quality material in The Others to justify the ninety minutes or so it takes to get to that reveal. The direction is solid enough, with a few sequences like the storage room scenes in particular that are aided by some deft blocking and framing. The production design is more drab and flat than appropriately moody, but there’s a few neat lighting choices that help convey the low-burning horror. And the repeated symbolism of mirrors gives the movie something to rest on when hinting that our protagonists are on the other side.
But those hints,and the inability to put cards on the table, leave The Others spinning its wheels for much of the runtime. A good, slow-spun bit of moody horror can be incredible, but you need a depth of character and an expert construction of that mood on a scene-to-scene basis that just isn't present here. This movie is founded on a delightfully clever and spooky idea, but unlike the sprawling manor that provides its setting, doesn’t build much on that foundation.
Idk how i watched this creepy movie while i was kid xD, like man it's so good although they didn't made many things, but just by some sounds and soundtrack make me now feel afraid and that's prove that this movie has a high quality of making tho it's old now, and for sure liked the plot twist, It's so great ( a bit expected) but really liked it
I watched this movie when was my childhood. I watched again (average 10 years later) and I understand the movie better now.
My favorite scenes: 38:45 and 59:47(best) ,maybe there are more...
You will want to watch it a second time for understand all missed messages. :)
That's some of the best acting that I've seen from child actors. Especially the little girl. The mute girl was great in her small role too. Great casting all around.
Also, hey, it's Lady Stark!
Imagine dying and getting STUCK with those awful kids for ETERNITY while some intruding clowns go around stealing your curtains... Grace had EVERY REASON to be fully insane.
Very good film even though it‘s not too scary. I honestly expected it to be more creepy. Still very good and unexpected plot twist at the end. Also great acting by Nicole Kidman as well as the rest of the cast. Definitely worth a watch.
Like another well-known horror film of the same era, a viewer’s reaction to the resolution of the central mystery that the film sets up is going to be a huge factor in rating this. But even people left unimpressed by the final act can surely agree that the atmosphere is suitably creepy, the performances are all great with Kidman in particular carrying the film (it was quite a year for her with Moulin Rouge as well) and the well-worn theme in ghost stories of unresolved trauma is handled well. A repeat viewing is just as effective in seeing how all the pieces fit together, but equally impressive is how the film balances sympathy and understanding of Kidman’s character throughout, despite her denial over her actions and refusal to accept what is happening around her.
One of the best horror suspense I watched and liked! No stupid jump scares or unnecessary sounds.
A proper screenplay and brilliant delivery. Keeps you intrigued and gives you that eerie feeling till the climax.
Good movie, but really slow and the twist seem pretty obvious midway.
"The Others" deserves a strong 9 for its atmospheric brilliance, psychological depth, and Nicole Kidman's stellar performance. The film's clever twist and masterful use of suspense create an eerie, unforgettable experience that sets it apart in the realm of supernatural thrillers.
It may seem a bit slow-paced, and the plot is not very intriguing. The cinematography though is the thing that keeps you watching and the sound mixing what makes you pay attention. The cast is brilliant, everyone gives amazing performances. And the plot twist is incredible, without a doubt one of the best twists in cinema.
Sometimes it is difficult to accept reality when the situation is beyond us.
After enduring Polish subtitles to watch this through YouTube, I have to say, it's quite good! I'm not sure why it's not on any streaming service. There certainly is a sense of tension throughout the entire movie, and the characters all work quite well together as they more or less attempt to understand the mystery that unfolds under the roof of this house.
I think the pacing of this story goes quite well, and it always left me thinking. I never really felt I had enough information to really put together what could even possibly happen next. I kept turning to my wife through the duration, spouting my wild theories about what could potentially happen (more for fun than anything else), but even my wild theories couldn't hold a candle to where the plot goes.
The twist near the end is certainly what pulls the movie together and what will cement it in my mind. The reveal for it is perfectly executed and left my mind turning well after the credits rolled.
If you can find it, I think it deserves a watch, and my recommendation.
Doesn't seems interesting at first, but may be for s.o. missed a few movies from these years. I've seen similar movies, but I admin the ending was way unexpected.
0ne of the best movies ever for me..The whole concept,the atmosphere,the story everything worked perfect. 8.6/10
It was kind of a slow moving movie but it got pretty interesting towards the end and was worth the watch.
This had a double plot twist. Damn. What a great movie. Nice dialogues. The pace is great, it reveals everything you need to know in the right order and time. Nice acting. Nicole is amazing, just as everyone else. It is not scary, but makes you wonder all time the what's going to happen next, where this story is going. I loved it.
"I'm beginning to feel totally cut off from the world."
Nicole Kidman acted the hell out of this movie. Seriously, she was awesome. At first I wasn't sure what I was in for but the 2nd half of the movie picks up and it was not at all what I expected it to be.
Not what I would consider a horror film but certainly a creepy suspense and it doesn't disappoint
Its actually quite genius in its simplicity. There is one location, a handful of actors, and a good plot line.
The acting from all involved is superb. The ambience, the sets, the darkness, its all so well done. And it wasn't some stupid ending that didn't connect with the beginning. All too often these suspenseful scary movies come together at the end with parts that have nothing to do with the beginning, usually done so that the ending doesn't seem obvious but it just doesn't work. This ending was plausible and I didn't see it coming, which I liked. And it made total sense when I looked back at what happened in the story.
Movie was ok but the twist .. unbelievable.. a must watch
on a rewatch this movie is not quite as satisfying as other movies and television series with a similar plot twist. i think for the year it was made it probably had a stronger effect, because i remember loving the movie when i was younger. the artistic decisions make sense and i like the overall sad spooky england vibes the director gave the film, but it was evident that this was a role that nicole kidman wasn't comfortable fully embodying and as a result some of the best acting in the film comes from alakina mann, who plays her daughter.
Absolutely spine chilling, The Others is a supernatural thriller starring Nicole Kidman. Set in the late ‘40s, a single mother caring for her two children who have an extreme sensitivity to sunlight that keeps them secluded indoors starts to experience a number of strange occurrences after taking on three new house servants. Director Alejandro Amenabar does a tremendous job at setting a creepy and atmospheric tone. The cinematography and score in particular are especially good, and give the film an ethereal quality. Additionally, the story is remarkably well structured and does an impressive job at creating intrigue. Incredibly frightening and full of mystery, The Others is an extraordinary horror film.
Holds up. Watched with the family, less the youngest and oldest, as the middles wanted a scary movie for Friday the 13th. Definitely rewards a re-watch. If you haven't seen this yet then don't read anything about it... highly suggested.
Actually much better than how I remembered it from when I was a kid. But knowing the twist, I wish the double meaning dialogues were conveyed better. Sometimes they weren’t as clear as they should’ve been where, after a first watch, I should rewatch having “aha!” and “ohhh ic what you did there” moments.
Actually this is an anti-war movie. Right?
amazing twist wasn't what i expected
Ein bisschen langatmig und nicht wirklich modern... wer's mag. Trotzdem nicht schlecht, daher [6/10].
Shout by DRNKMNKYBlockedParent2015-07-24T08:35:08Z
Superb suspense movie (I wouldn't call it a horror flick!) with a great plot twist and ending!