The Others
What, the lamp doesn't get top billing?
Can a movie still be entertaining when
you know the surprise ending? People are connected now more than ever
thanks to smartphones, lightning-fast internet, and social media.
Nowadays, it's almost impossible not to have at least parts of movies
spoiled for you by a status warning free of spoiler alerts or
references in other media. I love going to the theater to watch a
movie, but I hate going to the theater because of the people. For
whatever reason, there are tons of people who think they're at home
because they don't shut up. I have specific examples, like when I saw
Gran Torino in the theater and the old bat behind me felt the need to
croak “Larry had diarrhea last night!” right before the lights
went down. When I saw the Star Trek remake, the woman in front of me
kept laughing at inappropriate moments. Because going to theaters is
so painful, I wait a few weeks to catch a movie, hoping the crowds
have thinned. This wait is dangerous because a movie can be spoiled
in that time. If a movie is good enough, does it matter if you know
the ending?
The Others is 2001 horror movie
starring Nicole Kidman (Far And Away, Cold Mountain) as Grace
Stewart. Grace lives with her two small children, Anne and Nicholas,
in a large, but remote country house island of Jersey in the 1940's.
Three servants arrive at the house, Mrs. Bertha Mills (Fionnula
Flanagan, Brotherhood, Lost), Mr. Tuttle (Edmund Sykes, Theatre of
Blood, The Big Freeze), and a young mute girl named Lydia (Elaine
Cassidy). Mrs. Mills is tasked with taking care of the children who
suffer from photosensitivity and must remain in darkness at all
times. Grace instructs Mrs. Mills and Lydia to close and lock all
doors when leaving a room. After their arrival, strange events occur
in the house such as bizarre noises and locked doors opening. Anne
says it is the ghost of a boy named Victor and after scaring
Nicholas, Grace forces Anne to read the Bible for three days. Anne
draws a picture of a man, woman, Victor and an old woman, all of whom
she claims to have seen in the house. Grace tries to hunt down the
intruders, but finds no one. Convinced that something unholy is in
the house, Grace asks Mr. Tuttle to search for a cemetery that may be
on the grounds. When she leaves, Mr. Tuttle covers up a headstone
with leaves. Grace goes to get the priest but on her way, she
discovers her husband Charles (Christopher Eccleston, Gone in 60
Seconds, 28 Days Later) has returned from the war. He is distant and
in shock from the war. The next day when Grace is preparing Anne's
communion dress, she finds her daughter has been replaced by an old
woman. She violently shakes and hits the old woman, only to discover
that she has been hitting her daughter. Charles leaves soon after,
apparently unable to acclimate to the life he once lived. Mrs. Mills,
Mr. Tuttle, and Lydia have cryptic conversations about Grace, making
ominous comments about the living and the dead. Who are the intruders
and what do the servants want from Grace and her children?
Haunt this!
I'm not sure exactly when or where I
heard about the surprise ending, but it has been years and I decided
to watch the movie anyway. It's no longer a surprise thanks to
countless parodies. Even the DVD box touts the surprise ending.
Despite knowing how things were going to turn out, the movie is still
very enjoyable. Writer/director Alejandro Amenabar crafts an
atmosphere throughout the movie that is both scary and sad. There are
some jolts and general scares, but the fear in the movie comes from
the anticipation of the unknown. We know something is going to
happen, it is just a matter of where, when, and how. The sets look
great along with the style of clothing for the time period. The story
itself is good with proper pacing. There are hints of foreshadow, but
not as much as you'd expect for a movie with a big surprise ending. I
give credit to Amenabar for being able to hold off on giving too many
hints. Of course, that does put in to question his storytelling
ability. Occasionally, the movie does put more emphasis on style than
substance, wandering away from the meat of the story.
What makes the movie work is the
performances of the actors. Nicole Kidman is great as Grace with her
ability to be both strong and fragile. We believe that she is a
normal mother trying to keep her family together and her faith
intact. Fionnula Flanagan is very good as well. She is motherly and
calm with the children, but in other scenes she portrays herself as
having a hidden agenda. A certain look from her or the tone of her
voice works wonders for setting the mood of the entire movie. The
children are thankfully not unbearably annoying. Horror movies love
to make kids either incredibly annoying or incredibly stupid. The
Others managed to avoid this trap and just make the children
“normal”. The movie is a bit slow in parts, taking it's time
getting to the point. There are a few scenes of excitement, but to
call them “action” wouldn't be correct. There is not blood or
real violence to speak of as this movie is geared towards a much
wider audience than what the hardcore horror fan is used to seeing.
This is her happy face. Or sad face. It's hard to tell.
Despite knowing the end of the movie, I
still enjoyed The Others. The Others is a creative psychological
horror movie with good direction and great acting. Nicole Kidman and
Fionnula Flanagan make the movie work and Alejandro Amenabar creates
a dark atmosphere. The story is good, but sometimes goes off course
to favor film making over storytelling. There are a few creepy
scenes, but there isn't much action to speak of. It is clever and
creative with a good twist that is not ruined by earlier events in
the movie. If you like psychological horror, you'll enjoy The Others.
7.5/10
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