Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Others’

Written by Scott Edwards 

​Finding someone to take care of your house has to be one of the hardest things to do. Putting your trust into a complete stranger is very difficult even when they are not around your things, but when they will be in charge of maintaining them, forget it. I have a hard-enough time letting someone grab something off of the top shelf at the grocery store, just imagining them with my things, nope, I will have to pass. But once you find that person that you can trust and believe that they are well worth your time, well that means that you have found a keeper, never let them go!

Grace is having a difficult time keeping up and has been forced to hire some servants to look after the house, along with her children while her husband is away at war. When the doorbell rings, Grace meets Mrs. Mills, Mr. Tuttle and Lydia are finds out they are ready to accept that challenge. Feeling at home with the group, Grace has a stack of rules about the house, especially when it comes to her children, Ann and Nicholas. Since the children were born photosensitive, they cannot be exposed to the light of the sun, so the house must be dark at all times to ensure their safety. Mrs. Mills understands this and will do anything to help the children, but she is holding a secret of her own.

Finding the ad that was supposed to be sent to the local paper, Grace calls out Mrs. Mills on how she and her crew got the notification that their services were needed. Mrs. Mills comes clean and admits that she and her crew worked at the house many years ago and were just hoping to find work. Accepting her honesty, Grace allows the crew to continue working at the house, but she is starting to feel uneasy as some strange things are starting to happen. Ann has been known to tell stories about ghosts in her room and has been told to stop since such ideas are not allowed under the religious outlook of the house. But Ann knows what she has seen and now the spirits are starting to run around the house and are not hiding any longer.

When Grace hears shuffling above her seat, she goes to yell at Lydia about the noise, but when she sees that her young housekeeper is outside, she believes that there is someone else in the house. Searching high and low with no corner free from sunlight, the house is empty and that only means one thing, that the house is haunted. With talk about getting the local preacher to come out and bless the house, Grace decides to take matters into her own hands and starts off to town. As the weather turns worse and the fog bank refuses to lift, Grace sees a familiar silhouette in the distance, her husband. Not letting the situation pass her by, Grace brings her children’s father home only to find that he is not the man she remembers him being. When the only question he asks is about the one time that Grace had lost her mind in the house causing all of her previous staff to leave, she is ashamed, even when he has to leave again. Strange things continue to happen around the house and with a drawing from Ann, Grace is able to find out who might actually be causing these occurrences…or so she thinks.

Watching this movie now, versus from when it first came out, I have much more respect for it. I was never a fan of the dual story taking place and that is exactly what is happening, but it is hidden well if you don’t know what to look for. I am a huge proponent for forcing all of the big names in Hollywood to star in at least one horror film, just so they can get a feel for what it looks like to be scared, at least once. The story takes twists and turns and I hate to say it, but Ann has to steal the show for me, even though she is a little b*word to her little brother all throughout. I hated her and that is what makes the role so good for her. I cannot find anything bad to say about this movie, other than the ending is not what I expected, but it was good either way. Just a short trip back in time when things were easier, I guess is what makes this movie so good, that or Nichole Kidman is a good actress, you be the judge. Stay Scared. 

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