one of the best ghost stories in ages....

Rating: Null/10 (8 April 2002)

Agree with other reviewers here that this was one of the best ghost stories to come out in a long time. Why Kidman did not at least get an Oscar nom for her performance is puzzling. The two young child actors were great too. Moreover, it's amazing Alejandro Amenabar not only wrote and directed the film, but wrote the score as well (with its heavy echoes of Bernard Hermann's VERTIGO score throughout -- most excellent!).
While ostensibly a supernatural thriller ala THE SIXTH SENSE (which I also enjoy for different reasons), this story is really one big parable -- it's message is that organized religion does not hold all the answers for us in this life. It's a subtle theme but definitely there, illustrated by two scenes: when Kidman's character admonishes her son to pray with his crucifix and tells him that all will be well; and when she chastises her daughter during the school lesson for making the choice to deny Christ and that those who do end up in limbo -- these scenes are paid off brilliantly in the ending when Kidman's daughter asks, "Where are we?"
For any of this to make sense, you'll have to rent it and keep an eye out for the above scenes.
Highly recommended.