A fantastic ghost story

Rating: 9/10 (11 August 2001)

This is a return to an old tradition in the horror genre: the haunted house film. Many would argue that this particular subgenre has already been revived by such films as _The Sixth Sense_ and _What Lies Beneath_, but I would reply that this movie, with its excellent writing, acting, and mise-en-scene, shows just how silly and amateur those other films really are.
One of the main attraction of this film is Nicole Kidman, and that is rightfully so. She is as brilliant in the film as she was in _Eyes Wide Shut_ (perhaps more so) as a mother who is at once religiously fanatic and deeply compassionate towards her children. It is this sort of moral ambiguity that makes this film so delightful and fulfilling throughout.
The visual effects in the movie, although subtle, are nothing short of amazing. The foggy landscape around the house and the dark, moody tone of the entire film set a tone in which the scares seem perfectly in step with the rest of the movie, as well as the emotions of the central characters.
Last but not least, the script is one of the best I've seen in a long time. It maintains a careful pace (neither too slow or fast- a pitfall that claims many haunted house films) while slowly building to an unforgettable and logically sound conclusion (which seems to be less and less valued in big studio films these days, although it is an element with importance that cannot be estimated.)
All in all, this is terrific filmmaking. Here's hoping we see more horror films of this caliber soon.