The Others (2001)

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Starring Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, Alakina Mann, James Bentley, Eric Sykes, Christopher Eccleston, Elaine Cassidy. [PG-13]

Spook story in the Gothic-countryside tradition where a supernatural presence upsets the strict but fragile mother (Kidman) of two photosensitive children in an isolated, gloomy English manor. Is it being caused by the newly-hired servants (including Flanagan’s housekeeper, who always seems to know more than she’s letting on), a manifestation of her loneliness since her husband (Eccleston) left to fight the Germans in the war, or something sinister that threatens her vulnerable son and daughter? Like The Sixth Sense from a couple years prior, writer/director Amenábar doesn’t cheat while establishing an eerie, quietly absorbing ghost story with a haunting twist ending. Avoids leaning on the hazy atmosphere as a crutch (aside from the dense fog outside the house, it’s an understated aura of dread, and without a single cheap jump scare in sight), and even though most of it will ring very familiar to anyone who likes a good yesteryear haunted house story—Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw” is an unmistakable influence—Kidman’s focused, high-strung performance is convincing enough to seize attention and a measure of sympathy regardless of one’s patience for slow-build, sophisticated spine-tinglers.

77/100