Movie Review: The Others

The Others

The Others takes place on the Channel Islands during World War II. A young English wife, played by Nicole Kidman, takes her two children to live in an old mansion in the country while her husband is off fighting the Germans in France. Kidman, stoic but sad without her much loved husband, is saddled with two young children suffering from a bizarre ailment that causes great sensitivity to sunlight. And so the three live mostly in darkness and candlelight, Kidman only taking breaks in front of a sunlit window to quietly embroider. Three staffers - a housekeeper, a maid, and a gardener - do little to figuratively brighten the days, though the housekeeper does seem possessed of some strange secret she’s chosen not to share.

As the days pass, mostly in fog and rain, the huge mansion begins to exhibit strange occurrances, frightening first the children and then their mother. Fearful the building is haunted, Kidman does her best to remain upbeat for the sake of her children, all the while hiding her own fears and trying desperately to find the cause of these happenings and put a stop to them. When her husband arrives, home on an unexpected leave, Kidman couldn’t be happier or more relieved. But their time together is short and not as fulfilling as the lonely wife might have hoped, and the subtle horror invading their lives continues to grow. At last, The Others culminates in a series of revelations that, despite everything you’ve imagined up until then, will shock you to the core.

The set for The Others is spectacular. The age of the mansion is almost palpable from onscreen, and the furnishings are enough to make any antique lover salivate. The grounds are by turns imposing and almost surreal. The costuming is spare since the characters rarely have need to go out in public, but what clothing you do is is marvelously authentic. The supporting cast is fine, particularly the housekeeper who, although overtly friendly and helpful to her employer, also seems somehow a little scary. Kidman, who received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her role in The Others, is magnificent. Her performance is quiet, understated, never less than aristocratic, and yet manages to be positively heart rending in its longing and fear. Nicole Kidman will have a stellar career as a serious dramatic actress if she wants it.

Family Suitability: The Others is a movie for grown-ups. Though there is no overt violence, on-screen sex is all but non-existent, and profanity is extremely mild and very limited, the movie is not suitable for children. It is a dark, gradual crescendo into horror that little ones won’t understand, and older ones will find overwhelming.I wouldn’t recommend this movie for anyone under 16. For adults looking for a shiver or two as well as an engrossing story line and a brilliant performance by Nicole Kidman, I highly recommend this movie.