It’s not easy to answer someone’s question of what will happen to a human being after he dies. Obviously, one who believes in Heaven, will say, every one who leaves this world will find a new home in eternity. The one who leaves unwillingly will wonder around to find peace somewhere that won’t be. Long story short, to write more about Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others means almost ruining your movie night. But there is something strange about this film, in the way it was shot, photography, even the performance. Everything was so scarily good in The Others I wonder, what is that makes someone like Amenábar to write such an interesting and intriguingly storyline that will change your entire life forever?

Grace Stewart lives in a big mansion with her two children while her husband is on duty to serve his country. Every corner of the house is dark and terrifying. But Grace has her own reasons to hide her children from the daylight, since Nicholas and Anne are photosensitive that may kill them. One day Grace and her children are convinced that their family home is haunted by a ghost. As they try to uncover the truth, the family matters and beliefs will be shattered and their world will never be the same after a shocking discovery…

Shocking is the least I could tell, but by the time when you reach to the end of the film you will be probably paralyzed or stunned. But that of course, you will have to decide. But before you even get that far,  the opening scene will be enough to bring a chilling atmosphere, as you find Grace scream as loud as it was possible after she was reading a book or seeing a nightmare. Then, the door is knocked, as three servants, lead by Mrs. Bertha Mills offer their service, knowing that Grace is in need of help to deal with the house matter.

Grace, of course, accepts them and allows them to fulfill their duty, while the atmosphere is being boiled up by her mad attitude, that will make you wonder, if there is something wrong about this woman. Nicholas and Anne are strangely intelligent children. Despite their young age, they know as much as an experienced adult would have known. Of course, acquiring knowledge was Grace’s hard work, but soon we find out that the children are believed to see a ghost boy named Patrick , who asks Anne and Nicholas to leave the house.

Grace, when finds out about it, does not believe that there is a ghost in the house, and even punishes Anne for not obeying her orders. But shortly after, it becomes obvious to Grace that there is something not right about the house, and that the ghost, the children were talking about, perhaps, is real and exists. As the hunt after the ghost begins, it also will be revealed that Mrs. Bertha possesses a dark secret that could change Grace and her children’s life entirely. But before the old lady decides to tell the whole truth, she must see Grace ready and willing to accept the unfortunate reality, that most likely, she will never be able to escape.

Alejandro Amenábar’s is a perfect gothic ghost story that back in 2001 made a huge noise in the box office. But the huge sigh in the theaters would not be compared to any money received by the studio, as it surely well deserved every single penny the film earned. Nicole Kidman as Grace is terrific. Vibrant and impressive as a caring mother who loves her children with tender love. Alakina Mann as Anne and James Bentley did an amazing job by performing a brilliant performance alongside Nicole Kidman. The entire film you watch with high interest while your entire attention will be grabbed by the movie, no matter how may times you have seen it.

In conclusion, there is a piece of art in every single scene. A study that should be done to learn more about Kidman’s approach to portray Grace. The dark photography, editing, and the sound are exquisite and admirable. This move is one of those suspenseful horror thrillers that creates the entire movie based on performance and sound, while the rest of the plot will have to be figured out by you, if you’re lucky to survive. Because, by the time when the conclusion is provided, it’s a piece of thought you will find too difficult to accept, but will be left no chance but to rethink it. And that’s what makes The Others so special. Because it will haunt you long after the screen fades to black.