The Others (PG-13, 2001)

common sense media says

Good but creepy; may be too intense for some.

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie doesn't have any bad language or gory images, but it's genuinely creepy and may be upsetting even for older children. Some will be concerned over Anne's questioning of her mother's religious principles or disturbed by the implications of the final explanation.

Positive role models: Grace is a good mother, and attempts to protect her children.

Violence: Not explicit. Very tense and creepy.

Sex: Not applicable.

Language: Not applicable.

Consumerism: Not applicable.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about their views on life after death and why that has been a powerful theme in fiction as well as theology from the beginning of time.
This movie is creepy, but it isn't gory. How does it manage to be scary without being bloody?

What's the story?

THE OTHERS centers around Grace (Nicole Kidman) and her two children, who live in a huge old home on an isolated British island. World War II has ended, but she still hasn't heard from her husband and is trying not to let herself fear that he may be dead. Her two children have a genetic photo-sensitivity and break out in welts if they are exposed to any light stronger than a candle. The servants all left mysteriously, so they are there alone when three new servants show up, explaining that they worked at the house once years before and were happy there, so they have returned. Their arrival is unsettling, but not as unsettling as evidence of "intruders," including sightings by Grace's daughter Anne. Grace does her best to hold everything together, to protect the children's souls (she is deeply religious). She also has an elaborate system of keys to make sure that all doors are locked and all curtains drawn, to keep out light, as she says, the way a ship is designed to keep out water.

Is it any good?

Way back before computer graphics, moviemakers knew how to scare us through what the movie didn't show us. They knew that no one knows what scares us as well as we do ourselves, and that anything we could imagine would be far scarier than anything they could put on the screen. The Others is a return to that kind of old-fashioned-squeaky door hinge-flapping shutter -- "Who is that playing Chopin downstairs when I know I locked the piano?" -- "She can't leave now! It's too foggy!" sort of thriller, the kind that creeps into your bones and makes you shiver.

This movie is more mood than plot, but the mood is expertly handled by the writer/director and by Kidman, who makes her attempts to maintain control scarier than outright terror. The cast is outstanding and the ultimate resolution properly eerie.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Miramax
Director: Alejandro Amenabar
Cast: Alakina Mann, Christopher Eccleston, Nicole Kidman
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: August 10, 2001
DVD release: May 14, 2002
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: thematic elements and frightening moments

This review was written by Nell Minow

Review It

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

MovieMan26
adult

Creepy and well-made, with a great twist

This is superb horror film. It doesn't use gruesome, grisly gore to attract attention. It doesn't even use that many startling jump scenes. It uses Hitchcock-style suspense and creepiness. It makes the viewer think "Wow, that's intense," and not "Wow, that's disgusting, but stupid." Nicole Kindman does a fantastic job as the freaked-out widow/mother, and the kids are really good too. And, if you don't like it, wait until the end, because there's a really good twist. Don't worry, no spoilers here! Parents: although this isn't a violent film, it is an immensely creepy one, and it is often scary. Bottom Line: a must-see for horror fans, unless all they want is gore. Then they can rely on Saw or something. Thanks for reading! - Movie Man

What other families should know

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Genre

The Others (PG-13, 2001)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on The Others

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Review It

Review The Others

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Creepy and well-made, with a great twist

AWSOME

perfect for pre-teens that enjoy a fright.

Intense at moments

Quite good at first .

WOW!!!!

Cool

creepy

Good for tweens and older teenagers

Very creepy, but not with gore.

Great Movie :)

this movie is not too gory just how i like it

not scary

great movie

Not very scary...a good movie for kids who insist on watching a horror flick

Awesome

Very Scary!

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