The Others (2001): Lots of suspense with an amazing twist.

What is it about?

Grace (Nicole Kidman) lives alone with her two children in an old, dark house. Her adorable children suffer from Xeroderma Pigmentosum, a rare disease that makes them super-sensitive to Sun, which means they cannot be touched by sunlight at all.  No playing outside during the day, no picnics, fairs, nothing… And that’s 1940’s were are talking about! They had no TV or game consoles of any kind! What the hell were they supposed to do for fun? Read?! And how long before they  run out of books? And then what? To have such condition nowadays wouldn’t mean much to most of the kids. They barely go outside anyway. Everything they need is on the screen. But these two poor bastards from the movie… That’s so sad. I wish to hug them and teach them how to play Playstation 4. But I digress.

Anyway, they have to obey strict, borderline-crazy rules set by their loving mother. Soon, weird shit starts to happen, and Grace becomes convinced that her house is haunted. What follows is a very suspenseful thriller.

Who should watch it?

• Should I watch it with my kid(s)?

I don’t think so. They are either too small and will get scared easily, or they’re too big and will be bored with the lack of violent scenes.

• Is it good to watch on a date?

No. The movie is pretty unsettling, and you don’t want that kind of vibe on your date.

• For what age and gender is it intended?

For anyone who can appreciate an awesome thriller/horror with practically no gore of any kind.

What can I expect from this movie?

• Will I fall off the couch laughing and have sore abs the next day due to laughing too hard?

No, there’s nothing funny in this movie.

• Will I get scared?

I wouldn’t call this movie scary, but it’s full of suspense and you keep asking yourself what the hell is going on and you just can’t figure it out until the very end when it’s explained to you and then you feel stupid. Or is it just me?

• Is my brain going to implode trying to figure out the movie?

You probably won’t be able to guess what’s going on right from the start, or the middle, but once the movie ends, everything will be clear. You won’t have to watch it again to figure it out or go to IMDB board and ask 34 questions about the movie. Although, I did see several threads where people ask if Grace did or didn’t do this or that. As if they never watched a movie. It’s uncanny!

• Will I learn anything from this movie?

Yeah. Never leave Nicole Kidman alone with your kids.

• Is it based on something?

It’s loosely based on Henry Miller’s “The Turn of the Screw”, but it goes in a totally different direction.

• Is this movie a must-see?

It’s a fantastic horror/thriller delight and as such, I consider it a must-see.

Similar movies like “The Others”?

1. The 6th sense
2.  Orphan 
3. The Shining
4. The Babadook
5. Psycho
6. Shutter Island
7. Conjuring
8. The Visit

Judgment time!

“The Others” is one of the best horror movies I’ve ever seen. It’s lack of “shock” techniques where they throw random loud noises or scary images at you is so refreshing and much needed. There are so few horror movies that don’t rely on cheap scares, and “The Others” is certainly one of them. Instead, it aims for something more. While there aren’t too many scenes that will make you shit your pants, the amount of uncertainty, anxiety, even, is strong in this one.

“The Others” disregard small, cheap victories and focus on the grand finale, instead. And boy, what a finale it is. One of the most original concepts I’ve seen in a while and certainly not something I could’ve predicted right at the beginning, or even in the middle of the movie. And that’s something. I give it 10/10.