Once upon a time there was a young Spanish Director who had a sixth sense for ghost stories!

Rating: Null/10 (1 December 2001)

THE OTHERS, I must reluctantly admit has its moments. However, it is not a "classic" horror film, it isn't in fact a classic anything. It is a well photographed, flawed psychological thriller, a tad low on thrills.
The "Once upon a time" opening is a major mistake first-up as it telegraphs clues to the point of striking the viewer between the shoulder blades..."excuse me....this is a clue!!" A curious threesome, by way of Mrs Mills, mute Lydia and gardner Mr Ed Tuttle (the rarest of oddball roles for Brit once-was-a-funnyman, Eric Sykes) turn up at her door, curiously just as she is looking to replace the last help which disappeared into the night. Successful in gaining employment (or re-employment as it turns out, hint, hint!) Mrs Mills and the audience are introduced to Kidman's light-sensitive children, feisty daughter Anne and mega-wuss, her younger son Nicholas.

For most of the remainder of the film, well actually....nothing really happens when you come to think of it! Doors slam, we are given to believe that Anne sees dead people, the sound effects crew are given carte blanche to wring every last wrench, rip, tinkle, slam, shriek and ghostly presence you could hope for. Oh, and her lost-at-war husband turns up during a sequence that blatantly telegraphs what's going down here, IF you're paying attention.
Now, it has been common knowledge from both critiques and advance press on the flick, that it borrows heavily from the SIXTH SENSE (a better film in my opinion) and therefore I would have thought the general outcome would be obvious to most anyone, the only question is - which?????? The film answers this poser long before the last few scenes which subsequent to the denouement, are actually the best in the film. For my money, Nicole Kidman though credible mostly, yet almost 40's Crawford at times, is just over the top and downright "hammy" once in a while. Her best scenes are undeniably at the conclusion of the film. Fionulla Flanagan is flawless as the kindly housekeeper Mrs Mills and simply acts Kidman off the screen....sorry fans! Alakina Mann all but matches her stride for scream as the daughter with attitude and a rather fetching look beneath that veil!
*****POSSIBLE SPOILER AHEAD *****
Clues are littered throughout, with such ludicrous gems as "Mummy's gone mad...again!" and multiple references to "that night." Even if you DO work out the basic premise and I have to be honest, I did quite early (Half is obvious almost immediately....the other half later!) the "actual" explanation at the end is acceptable without necessarily being logical - you can put up half a dozen "Yeah, but what about's" In the end, not so much derivative of the sixth sense but an arguable rip-off, dove-tailed with Henry James concepts in TURN OF THE SCREW. The latter being filmed in 1961 as THE INNOCENTS which leaves this for dead (excuse the pun!)
Chilean born Amenobar has undeniably turned out an "interesting" film (only his third) with strong European influences, never more obvious than from Aguirresarobe's gothic-inspired cinematography. The buzz that THE OTHERS may be in Oscar contention, may be a little premature. One person could well live with that, is Executive Producer, the ex Mr Kidman, Tom "let me get on with my life" Cruise.