PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I remember watching The Others for the first time. It was with my mother, who has an uncanny ability to guess the ending of everything we watch without many clues. I had an idea in my head of what was occurring throughout this dark, mysterious and unnerving film, yet thought to myself ‘No, that’s too obvious’. The twist at the end of The Others was so beautifully woven into the storyline, that combined with the spectacular acting by everyone involved, I had still been surprised when it happened.
That’s some incredible writing and direction by Spanish film maker Alejandro Amenabar who also directed the Academy award winning Spanish film The Sea Inside (2004). Amenabar also composes the music for the majority of his films, and The Others is no exception. It is clear there is a passion and investment in bringing the story to life through mood and atmosphere.
Released on August 10th, 2001 by Dimension Films, viewers were captivated by a movie trailer that gave nothing away, yet rattled excitement in the most seasoned horror film fans. We all love a slow burn, that isn’t THAT slow, so there’s plenty of tension and jump scares along the way to keep you well invested before the mind-twist ending is revealed. I believe The Others to be one of Nicole Kidman’s (Eyes Wide Shut 1999) finest films. Kidman brings the character of Grace Stewart to life.
In The Others, a strict, seemingly cold, devout catholic mother of two young children, Grace becomes increasingly aware of a presence, or ‘intruders’ as she calls them. Within her large home in the countryside, she begins to unravel with paranoia. Charles, portrayed by Christopher Eccleston (28 Days Later, 2002) is Grace’s husband and father of their two young children. Charles has gone to war and not been heard from since. Presumably, Charles has passed away.
Grace’s children, Nicholas, played by James Bentley (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers 2004) and Anne played by Alakina Mann (Girl With A Pearl Earring 2003), live essentially in the dark, suffering from a rare photo-sensitivity to the sun. All the curtains in the home must remain closed during the day, leaving the small family in darkness and enclosed within the chambers of the old home the majority of the time. Recently, a thick fog, that doesn’t seem to be lifting, has rolled in among the hills, encapsulating the household and making it impossible to leave.
Around the time of the fog rolling in, three caretakers come by to find work within the home. The caretakers state they had worked in the manor long ago and were familiar with the house. Mrs. Mills portrayed by Fionnula Flanagan, (The Invention of Lying 2009) is essentially the leader of this pack, followed by the late Eric Sykes (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 2005) as Mr. Tuttle, and Elaine Cassidy (Salvable 2025) as mute Lydia.
All of the actors in The Others do an excellent job in their respective roles and one feels they are following alongside in the tense, unraveling of Grace’s psyche. Mrs. Mills, Mr. Tuttle and Lydia, have more in mind than just keeping the manor, they have arrived at this particular home to provide guidance to a family dismantled by trauma and grief. However, they must not reveal why they have arrived at the home right away.
The Others is a must-see for any horror fan, let alone any movie fan. The story will stick with you long after and leave you questioning this life and the world beyond like you may have never before. The Others is a paranormal thriller, yes, but it is unique. If you haven’t had a chance yet, I highly recommend checking it out asap.
The Others is currently streaming on Crave and Amazon Prime.
