What about AnOther?

Rating: Null/10 (10 August 2001)

Gothic horror? No. mystery? Nope. Slasher? Not even. Just a dark, dreary film set in the Channel Islands in 1945. Who better to give us a depressing thriller than America's sweethearts Nicole Kidman and (exec. Producer) Tom Cruise. This just may be the key to their split-up.
Though this is not a frightening nail-biter it may engage you if you're the pulp fiction/gothic romance fan. It's remarkably slow through the first hour, but the set and the classic characters do provide entertainment. The key to the film's fascination is its ability to keep you wondering who these Others are. It provides a few moments of shock in the process but when you reach your destination you may find yourself looking for AnOther.
Grace (Nicole Kidman) mother of two young children and mistress of the house opens the film with a frightening scream setting up audience expectation for something really eerie that really never materializes. Seems that the master of the house has gone off to war but forgot to return when it ended. Three stock characters from thousands of British films turn up to carry the tasks to keep the house together and we're given a tour of the house. See the kids, like the audience must live in darkness or they'll shrivel up like prunes in minutes. The house has no electricity or telephones and is lit by oil lamps at best. Heavy drapes cover the windows and heavy Catholic mysticism covers this family. Getting the idea that this isn't light entertainment?
Lesser stars perform their roles admirably, the strongest of whom is Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan). I saw her last in `Waking Ned Devine' and her continued strong presence helps bring the film around its plot twist. Daughter and son are cute and annoying, dad returns in a fog and remains perplexed throughout his short appearance and the remaining two characters tread lightly on screen. If you don't like Ms. Kidman, don't come since her visage remains on screen through most of this film.
All of the appropriate moaning, creaking, crying, shadows, frightening looks and terrorized kids can be found here. Nicole plays the part of a moralistic home schooler and this part may have been written with her in mind considering her religious convictions. You may think her paranoid but as events unfold, her fears are well placed. She's actually battling the Dyanetic demons and we expect Mr. Cruise (or maybe even Mr. Travolta) to step in as the embodiment of evil. But they don't. Though it's pretty predictable, it's worth your while as an atmospheric piece and if you're like me, you'll wonder about the derivation of the word `smother.' Though I doubt you'll be peeking behind your drapes to see if something is lurking, it's engaging entertainment for most of the family.
CyCy