very good, but....

Rating: 7/10 (23 October 2005)

When I first saw that film, I was thrilled to see a motion picture that did not require much special effects to be captivating. The ensemble of the cast is quite convincing, especially for Nicole Kidman and Fionnula Flanagan as the mother and maid servant.
What I especially liked was the feeling of unsettlement caused by the fact the story took place in a mansion in Europe during WWII, the style of photography, the sound effects, the eeriness of the two maid servants and the gardener. The fact that the children suffer from a skin disease that prohibits them from strong light exposure darkens the essence of the film.
That film carries a flaw though. For those of you who have seen The Changeling, you will probably find the séance in both films are quite alike. The catch is The Changeling was released sometime around 1979 - 1980. When I watched The Others, it felt like watching The Changeling... only this time... seen from the "other side".
I must admit that, on the whole, I liked that movie enough to buy the two-disk DVD edition.