Enthralling

Rating: Null/10 (4 October 2002)

***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Before I saw this movie I was one of the few people who couldn't stand Nicole Kidman. But with Moulin Rouge and The Others, she has became one of my favorite actresses to watch.
It is important to realise that this movie is all Nicole Kidman. She obviously headlines the cast, and despite fantastic performances by her supporting cast, it's Kidman that drew people to this film, and will undoubtably bring new fans to the cast.
The movie follows Grace Stewart (Kidman) and her children Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), who suffer from a rare disorder that forces them to avoid sunlight at all costs.
Desperate for help, and perhaps company Grace employs the mysterious Ms. Bertha Mills (Fionnula Flannigan) and her companions Edmund Tuttle (Eric Skyes) and Lydia (Elaine Cassidy).
But as things start to go wrong in the house, Grace becomes more and more paranoid and begins to suspect her help, more the mute Lydia who seems to know more than she is letting on.
The movie builds up to a brilliant twist that I for one, never saw coming and appreciated fully.
Kidman is brilliant as Grace, accent and all, and mixes paranoia with strength and determination. Fionulla Flannigan, Eric Skyes and Elaine Cassidy are suitable mysterious, Flannigan particularly and Cassidy put in a brilliant performance for a simple role, though she does look tired and worn and pale. The kids are utterly brilliant, specifically Mann as the suspiciously defiant older sister. Christopher Eccleston appears for a short time, and the movie's only other big name puts in a quietly impressive performance as Grace's MIA husband who turns up in the fog.
9/10.