It's not exactly a horror film. Or a drama. It falls somewhere in between suspense and confusion. Like many of today's gripping horror movies, "The Others" keeps the audience enticed with its ominous setting and situation.
Nicole Kidman ("Eyes Wide Shut," "Moulin Rouge") portrays Grace, a controlling single mother left to hold up the fort after her husband left for World War II. Not too creepy, huh? Add a mysterious mansion, a shady group of new caretakers and various subplots, and now you've got a movie.
Grace's children, Anne and Nicholas (played by Alakina Mann and James Bentley), have a rare skin disorder that causes a deathly allergic reaction to sunlight. Their life of darkness echoes throughout the movie, creating an effectively chilling atmosphere. The dark home, lit only by candlelight, seems to be a perfect breeding ground for the supernatural.
After the previous caretakers disappear, Grace begins the search for replacements. Three prospects, a mute maid, an elderly nanny and a humble gardener, arrive and are hired. They seem very passive, yet they also seem to have a hidden agenda. Grace, much too concerned about her children, overlooks any suspicions.
Strange occurrences begin. Locked doors open, and strange sounds invade the mansion. Anne begins seeing a young boy at night, and these visions terribly frighten her younger brother. After turning to the Bible for an explanation, Grace is convinced that Anne is crying wolf - until it happens to her.
|
Things are not always what they seem. This theme echoes throughout the film and is reiterated at its conclusion. Hollywood seems to believe that a surprise ending is what keeps an audience enthralled. It is true in this case; only at the film's end do the small clues and situations become clear. A second viewing will allow viewers to catch the slight climactic hints along the way.
The work done behind the scenes of "The Others" reflects the success of the movie itself. Casting for this film is exceptional. The young children were selected not only for their acting ability, but their physical appearance as well. Their pale skin and innocent features depict them as situational victims. Also, Kidman is a perfect choice for this film, for she has a natural upper-class elegance. And from the minute they appear onscreen, the three caretakers truly raise the audience's suspicions. Their facial expressions and characterizations portray these three as somewhat kind, but with a devious quality hidden from the world. The World War II time period is captured successfully through dress and acting mannerisms.
Directing this film required a tremendous amount of talent and desire. When filming a thriller, it is easy to show the obvious. Alejandro Amenabar has proven his worth by focusing not only on the main plot, but also on various and well-developed sidetracks and suspicions. In addition, interesting camera work does not simply follow the characters, but in some cases, actually leads them toward their forthcoming action.
|
|
|
Editing plays the largest role in the area of special effects. When a dense fog envelops the property, editing allows the audience to be in Grace's shoes, feeling the panic and terror she feels. The focal points change dramatically from scene to scene, and the editing brings this frenzied aspect out. Also, music, as in most thrillers, makes the film truly chilling. The traditional orchestra-type soundtrack captures the audience and enthralls the senses. Its tone and volume increase at climactic points, causing the audience to become alert, and in some cases, greatly alarmed.
The resemblance between "The Others" and "Sixth Sense" is uncanny. The adorable children (and their ability to see dead people), the mass confusion and the unexplained ghost activity are all common ingredients found in both films. Nonetheless, "The Others" provides an entertaining two hours that will keep the audience on its toes. A well-written and well-directed "Sixth Sense" knockoff, "The Others" proves to be a wild ride.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
