The Others instantly piqued my curiosity when it introduces us to its classic style of filmmaking. Signaling that every director hasn't forgotten about the myriad of fantastically scary thriller/horror films pre 1980. The film, painted by not only the characters but also the atmosphere draws you in and keeps you there. By the time you realize you're sucked in there is nothing to do but hold onto the corner of the couch and squeeze tightly till the fear disappears.

With Nicole Kidman playing Grace Stewart, an obsessive wife and mother who loves her children almost too much. The cast is rounded out with 2 child actors (we all know children are extremely scary) and the eerie servants Fionnula Flanagan as Ms. Bertha Mills, Eric Sykes as Mr. Edmund Tuttle and their mute companion Lydia. There are two more very important members of the cast in the house itself and the musical score. A hitchcokian atmosphere completely created by both. These also help to set the mood for this thriller, a beautiful old Victorian home lit starkly enough to chill you and music that reaches out of the sound system pulls hairs from your arm.

Set near the end of the Second World War we begin with the silhouette of the typical house on a hill. Learning that the women and her two children who live there with are quirky in their own right. The mother is a recluse due to her children's allergy to sunlight waiting patiently for her husband to return from the war. The children's allergy is a nice little plot device that gives the audience permission to embrace the darkness. This gives license to the lighting of scenes and a dark room seems normal and comfortable to be in.

For some strange reason the previous house servants have disappeared and a new creepy crop is welcomed to the house. We discover that the house seems to be haunted and as the movie progresses the little hairs on the back of your neck start to stand up. This movie builds at a wonderful pace, slow and creepy, just giving the viewer enough to really get their hackles up. Until the audience is so worked up that the last 20 minutes are spent almost in a state of terror. I will admit there was ONE unanswered question; integral to the story, I think it was, but not a focal point.

There are many 'jump out of your skin moments'. Directed by Alejandro Amenábar, who has the audience in the palm of his hand throughout the flick. He also directed the original Vanilla Sky (Abre Los Ojos), which from what I hear is a better film that the Cruise/Cruise vehicle. This kid certainly does have talent and some very impressive storytelling skills.

The DVD - a two disc set, but I'm not really sure why. The digital transfer is great, sound and sight are satisfied. A bit lacking in the extras for a two disc set though, a few short docu's and that's about it.

I can tell you I haven't been this scared by a movie in a long, long time. It's a thriller thru and thru, never does the movie resort to gore. It is beautifully shot with a cinema noir feel almost like you're watching a black and white film.

Scared the pants off me probably will you too.

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