Forget the Sixth Sense - this is better on all levels!!!

Rating: 10/10 (7 February 2002)

Finally. A ghost story which is amazingly simple yet effective!
THERE WILL BE PLOT SPOILERS EVERYWHERE HERE, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT AND DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANY MINOR/MAJOR PLOT DETAILS, DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW!!!! I'LL GIVE *** TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S SAFE TO READ.
First of all, let me say - I worked out the first twist. The servants being ghosts and all, but the second one sent my brain reeling in all directions!!! WOW!
***This film is a great film. It uses the simplest of techniques to achieve the highest desired effect - to scare us witless! Doors opening and closing on their own. The piano being played in a room with no-one there. This might all sound familiar to the avid horror/thriller/chiller fan, but it is dealt with very careful means. And anyone expecting a slasher film, go somewhere else.***
In hindsight, if you actually sit down and think about what you have just witnessed, the twist makes sooooooooooo much sense, AND it holds water, unlike the Sixth Sense.
Take the two worlds - the living and the dead. As Grace (Kidman), in the world of the dead, keeps closing the curtains during the day to keep her children safe from the sun, and closing every door behind her so none are open, to the living, it seems that they have ghosts. If the 'intruders' keep opening the curtains during the day and leaving doors open, then to Grace, SHE has ghosts. This is so clever and really plays on a person's perceptions of events. God, I can't even put into words what I'm trying to say. But you who have seen this will definitely understand!!!!
***No beating about the bush, Kidman SHOULD get the Oscar for this film. I havn't seen Spaceck's performance yet, but so far, Kidman deserves it. She nails the British accent, she gives a powerful performance, and she is believable.
The two children are also outstanding, the girl was genuinely creepy at some points - when she was doing the 'red-rum' style two voiced exclamations in the room with her brother.
I'm still in shock I think after seeing this film, it does make you think. Which is always welcome when I watch a film.
Great direction. Very controlled. He knows when to keep us on our toes, or scare us half to death with tension. And there is, to be honest, only one special effect in this film, and that's in the scene toward the end when Grace rips up the papers.
Go and see this film, you will not, I guarantee, NOT, be dissapointed!

A simple and perfect, just like the film, 10/10!!
Enjoy!***