More than just "Scary Stuff"

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2001)

To write my review I would like to rebuttal the comments that continually compare this film to that of the Sixth Sense. The major difference between The Others and The Sixth Sense is that The Sixth Sense is a psychological drama with supernatural elements. The Others is a psychological MYSTERY, with possible supernatural elements. Two different genre's of film-making, two different ways of telling a story. The surprise ending is usually a mandatory constituent of a mystery film. The surprise ending to The Sixth Sense was interesting but raised question to possible plot holes. The other remarkable device The Others presents is theory and conception. The Sixth Sense lays out exactly what is trying to be achieved and the "surprise" ending is not out of character of the whole plot. The Others ending may not have been a surprise to a select few audience members, but that's the point of a mystery, combining clues to theorize a climax ending; figure it out, congrats, to the rest of us who didn't, surprise! In the end what is important is how you leave the theater, and while my friends and I left the The Others talking about possible theories the ending presents and what parts made us jump completely out of our chair, leaving The Sixth Sense we were questioning the obvious plot holes that the ending left us with. Everything about The Others is chilling. Cliché? Perhaps, but what is more satisfying than an old English mansion, surrounded by fog, with child inhabitants who fear seeing the sun at the medical risk of death? Especially when telling a horror story. Not one drop of blood is shed in order to scare. No CGI monsters, no running through the house as the floorboards are lifted from beneath them. Noises, voices, mystery and psychological drama are the tricks to create fear. The performances were creepy and admirable. The sets were perfect. The story was masterful, is this really a haunted house or haunted minds? Who are the caretakers, whats up with the husband, what happened to Grace to make her children more afraid of her than the possible ghosts? So much mystery and all answered wonderfully. Bone chilling, thought provoking entertainment.