Who are The Others? (The Others (Collectors Edition, 2 DVDs))

Member Name: SWSt

Product:	The Others (Collectors Edition, 2 DVDs)
Date:	20/12/06 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Eerie, claustraphobic atmosphere, great acting and plot

Disadvantages: Pointless cameo from Chistopher Eccleston

(Film only review)

Introduction
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A young mother is stranded alone in a large, isolated house which she cannot leave as her children are allergic to sunlight. Then some new servants arrive and things become sinister.

The Cast
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Nicole Kidman heads the cast as Grace Stewart and does a reasonable job of portraying the anger and helplessness she feels being trapped in a house with two young children. However, surprisingly, the Oscar winner is acted off the screen by Alakina Mann, as her daughter Anne. Mann is an absolute revelation in her first big screen role. Her part is crucial as it pins the whole film together, and it’s through her eyes that much of the story unfolds. Mann successfully portrays a whole range of emotions as the film progresses: fear, anger, childishness, love and rebelliousness. Her performance really keeps you on edge – you’re never quite sure whether she’s telling the truth or pretending. James Bentley, as Anne’s brother, Nicholas, is also pretty good, although he does tend to convey most of his emotions through frowning, which makes him look permanently confused. Fortunately, this is exactly the emotion called for, so his performance does not look out of place!

The other standout performance is that of Fionnula Flanagan, as sinister Irish housekeeper Mrs Mills. Flanagan manages to maintain a suitable air of menace, whilst at the same time appearing to be nice. Again, this role is crucial to the film and a difficult one to get right. Play it too sinister and the character becomes unlikeable, play it too nice and the sinister aspect becomes unbelievable.

Interestingly, virtually all the characters in the film are pretty unlikeable. Grace is selfish and petulant as are the children at times, and the servants can be are unpleasant and aggressive. Despite this, because they are such interesting, well-developed characters, you do find yourself caring for them and hoping that everything will work out. This is a credit to both the actors and director for teasing out such multi-layered performances.

The Film
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One of the key things which makes The Others is the superb atmosphere which is built up by director Alejandro Amenabar. This starts with the setting – a creepy old 1940s house where the very architecture seems to tower above the characters and menace them. This, combined with the lack of light (due to the childrens’ photosensitivity), means that the whole atmosphere is gloomy, claustrophobic and unsettling. We feel as trapped as the main characters. Shadows cover virtually everything, and as the film progresses, you begin to see things in the shadows. It really evokes childhood nightmares when you became convinced that ghosts and monsters lurked in every shadow!

Despite this creepy atmosphere, The Others is a good, old-fashioned story. Amenabar simply provides you with the story and the setting, then lets your imagination do the work. As such, it’s quite an understated and slow moving film. This is not meant as a criticism (although I have heard some people say it is “boring”). By allowing events to build slowly, the sinister atmosphere becomes more and more oppressive, so that by the end, you really feel like you’ve been hit by a juggernaut!

Equally, the film is very restrained. As the atmosphere is so brilliantly created, there is no need for the histrionics that characterise so many other films in this genre. There is no bloodshed, violent deaths or limbs flying; no attractive young starlets being stalked and killed by masked maniacs. Similarly, there are no really scary moments, which might sound a little odd, given that this is often touted as a very scary film. There are perhaps two moments which might make you jump (assuming you are of a nervous disposition), but there is none of the lazy “have things jump out of the shadows” type scares so beloved of all too many producers. Instead, as stated above, Amenabar simply uses the atmosphere and the setting and allows your imagination to work overtime.

The plot is also very carefully crafted and deliberately keeps guessing. We find things out at much the same pace as the characters, so we’re as much in the dark as they are (literally, given the film’s setting!). There are a number of twists and turns, and just when you think you are getting your head around what is happening, something else occurs and you’re confused again. However, unlike some films, the twists and turns don’t feel strained or manipulative. The film is well-structured so that every new twist or revelation seems perfectly plausible and logical. Once you’ve seen the film, you’ll wonder why on earth you didn’t work it out from the start, but most people won’t!

The trouble with films that rely on twists is that they don’t usually bear repeat watching. With The Others, however, because the atmosphere is so great and the story telling so clever, it still works as an entertaining film in its own right. I’ve probably watched it now four or five times with different people, and still enjoy it.

So, are there any criticisms of the film? Well, I suppose those who say it is “boring” might have a small point. If you prefer films where things actually happen, or where the pace is fast, you might not enjoy The Others.

Another criticism might be that, it does get a little flabby in the middle. Part way through, when Grace is getting towards the end of her tether, her husband (Christopher Eccleston) turns up for a brief appearance. Eccleston is a fantastic actor, yet is given virtually nothing to do. Whilst I can understand the purpose of this section (it further adds to the confusion), it could easily have been dropped without losing anything at all from either the atmosphere or the plot itself.

Conclusion
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Apart from the Christopher Eccleston role, it’s difficult to find much to criticise in The Others. A well crafted scripted, atmospheric and spooky setting, combined with excellent central performances means this is an entertaining film that will have you on the edge of your seat. Definitely worth seeing!

See this if you liked
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6th Sense
The Shining

Basic Information
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The Others
2001
Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Running Time: 101 minutes
Certificate: 12

Trivia
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The Others is the highest grossing Spanish film of all time, in terms of world-wide box office.

Summary: Good, old-fashioned story telling at its best