••••&# 8226;• Welcome to the extremes of Saturnian life. There is ple...
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Member since:21.06.2000
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This is a brooding film full of subtle menace and half light, with a few shocks including a real popcorn-chucker which had the whole cinema out of their seats. See below for a spoiler free plot summary . . .
Performances ------------
Nicole Kidman is all over this film. Apparently, she didn't want to do it after Moulin Rouge. Perhaps the fact that Tom Cruise is a producer didn't help. Her performance though is wonderful as a prim, grieving, deserted, slightly wasted and totally barmy housewife. They say that good actors can act with their eyes alone. Here, her eyes are bloodshoot thoughout as though she is perpetually on the edge of tears and the fear looks quite convincing. Christopher Ecclestone as the husband is excellent in a lost, shell shocked, zombie kind of way. Eric Sykes tops up his pension with a tolerable performance and Keith Allen does a cast-against-type cameo which is too short. The best performance here though is from Alakina Mann who plays the daughter. Horror films with children are made or broken by the casting of the child (Sixth Sense, The Shining), and this one just sneaks in on her performance. In fact, this film has a lot of the atmosphere of both of those films. Fionnula Flanagan is also notable as the spooky housekeeper. I suppose I should credit the house which also acts its socks off.
Nicole Kidman and two lovely (not)sunlight-allergic children live in a spooky fog bound house in the Channel Islands waiting for Daddy to come home from the war.
Two crusty old folks and a mute girl turn up to keep house.
All is not well. The children 'see' things.
Terror ensues and Kidman scatters her marbles nicely all over the place.
Spooky, twisted ending ensues.
Shocks, frights, pace ---------------------
This is not a film which delivers fright after fright. Instead, it builds a sense of gloom and despondency with occasional flurries of action and terror. There is a period of character building at the start and an stylish, deliberate shutting out of the light as the film descends into horror mode.
Other Stuff -----------
This is a twelve certificate, but I wouldn't take a twelve year old to see it. It is a must-see at the cinema but might not do so well on the small screen. Director Alejandro Amenabar does an excellent job. In summary, a great film.
Update ------
No Oscar nomination ? I suppose Moulin Rouge will have to do. Shame.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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The spooky atmosphere sounds good, but I wonder whether the action is a bit slow building? Haven't seen it and would like to, but I can't stand slow films!
chemuyil 23.03.2007 11:16
I think thos is the best Amenabar's film , I agree with you about the oscars.
mr-zeeman 13.01.2005 02:57
I've just watched this on TV and was VERY impressed. Far more intelligent than Sixth Sense (I twigged what was going on in the first 10 minutes of that film, and was bored for the remaining time). Fabulous casting, although personally I thought Eric Sykes was a disaster - luckily he didn't have a great deal to do. Cheers, Paula.
A welcome throwback to the spooky traditions of Jack Clayton'sThe Innocentsand Robert ... more
Wise'sThe Haunting, Alejandro Amenábar'sThe Othersfavours atmosphere, sound, and suggestion over flashy special effects. Set in 1945 on a fog-enshrouded island off th...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
A welcome throwback to the spooky traditions of Jack Clayton'sThe Innocentsand Robert ... more
Wise'sThe Haunting, Alejandro Amenábar'sThe Othersfavours atmosphere, sound, and suggestion over flashy special effects. Set in 1945 on a fog-enshrouded island off th...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Screen sensation and Golden Globe winner Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, Eyes Wide Shut) ... more
delivers an utterly unforgettable performance in this scary and stylish suspense thriller. While awaiting her husband's return from war, Grace (Kidman) and her two yo...
Sooner Or Later They Will Find You. A young woman (Kidman) and her two children reside ... more
in a secluded island mansion awaiting the return of her husband from the war. Her children have a mysterious disease that won't allow them to be near sunlight so s...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: A thriller that relies on the audience's imagination rather than special effects Disadvantages: What was the point of Christopher Ecclestone's role, and the film could have been a few minutes shorter...
ickkate 23.05.2003 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Others (DVD)
![The Others (2 Disc Collectors Edition) [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78530551.jpg "The Others (2 Disc Collectors Edition) [DVD] [2001]")
Nov 13th, 2001
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