Kidman kills in this one!

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2002)

No Spoilers here -
My first impression of this title was "oh, another Kidman movie". But my girlfriend asked if I could pick it up on my way over and I though "what the heck, I'll watch it".
I was very surprised. I have never seen a more thrilling, spooky, chilling performance from this (IMPO) overrated actress. Her character comes across as a truly overbearing tyrant of her house (by necessity) in a post WWI environment. She guides the viewer through the house and reveals her story to us piece by piece building anticipation and the 'creepy' factor until you find yourself making excuses to get up to go to the fridge just to take a break.
The house is filled with tension from more than the story line, the children have a condition that restricts them to darkened rooms, and Grace (Kidman) constructs an elaborate door opening/closing method to keep the sunlight away from them. Which always leaves you thinking about the doors... and which ones are open.
You are a prisoner of the house just as Grace and the children are, walking the halls and discovering what the house holds in it's secret darkness - and who is looking for you on the other side.
Kidman and company excel at bringing the viewer into the world of 'The Others', and when the movie was over, I stayed up late to watch it again.
Many kudos to Kidman for her performance, which was only possible due to the superb portrayal of the children and servants. Leave 'The Peacemaker', 'Batman Forever', and *shudder* 'Eyes Wide Shut' behind... this ones a keeper.