Friday, October 9, 2015

Mock Squid Soup Film Society...The Answer is "The Others"

 Once a month we pick a film, or someone else picks a film that we all watch and then give a review. This month it was guess which film we chose? I gave the clues last week and tried to be vague but some of you got it! Good for you:) To see the rest travel on over to The Armchair Squid to see what everyone else chose.

My Pick is "The Others" from 2001

This film seriously freaked me out..it doesn't take much because I am a wuss. It stars Nicole Kidman and the wonderful Fionnula Flanagan  in a great ghost story set during World War 2 (or is it??). Nicole plays Grace Stewart, a mother of 2 young children who both have a very rare disease that makes them photosensitive, in other words, they get 3rd degree burns from just being in the sun for a couple of minutes. Her husband is away at War and she is in this large home on an island off of England. 3 servants come to help out the young mom who has her hands full with keeping her children safe from the daylight. Strange things happen, the little girl seems to know more than she is letting on and we see poor Grace become more and more...tense.

There are no huge special effects...and truly it is not needed to achieve the isolation, fear and despondence that this film portrays. It is intelligent...how about that!  The home is surrounded by fog and when Grace tries to walk to the nearby village the fog rolls in leaving her disoriented.  Oops..I veered into some stream of consciousness....:)

There is a scene, near the end, that put me on the edge of my seat and totally freaked me out...that's all I will say. What I find wonderful about this film, aside from the acting, even the kids are great, is how minimalist it truly is in any effects. I have seen other films (That horrible remake of The Haunting with Liam Neeson comes to mind) where cgi and shock attack plays high rather than, um, how should I say...oh yes..Great writing!

If you haven't seen this film, see it because I did and, don't worry,  no kid is coming out of any TV ready to stretch your face into something disgusting. This film keeps you on your toes and makes you think plus you learn a little bit about the lives of children with this dreadful disease.  I give it a solid 8.5 out of 10.
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55 comments:

  1. DeniseOctober 9, 2015 at 7:10 AM

    Haven't seen it but will put it on my list. My long list.

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  2. The Armchair SquidOctober 9, 2015 at 7:19 AM

    My wife and I gave The Others a good, honest try at one point. Neither of us is much for scary movies, though. We didn't finish it. I do appreciate minimal bells and whistles, though.

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:00 PM

      Oh bummer that you didn't watch to the end because it really pieces everything together quite well.

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    2. The Armchair SquidOctober 11, 2015 at 9:42 AM

      Maybe sometime. It might mean watching by myself, though - not sure I'm up for that.

      Delete
  3. Alex J. CavanaughOctober 9, 2015 at 9:11 AM

    It was very atmospheric. Not scary, but creepy and unnerving. (I am a big horror movie geek though, so it takes a lot to scare me.)

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:01 PM

      It takes little to scare me:) When the kids were outside taking leaves away and then...OK that freaked me out big time...RUN!!! :)

      Delete
  4. AnonymousOctober 9, 2015 at 9:30 AM

    GREAT ghost movie...one of the best!!! Great review :-D

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  5. Pat HattOctober 9, 2015 at 9:42 AM

    I watched it years ago, I enjoyed it. Remember it was compared to the sixth sense a bit, wasn't as good as that one though.

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:02 PM

      I almost find them equal and both are excellent.

      Delete
  6. Shady Del KnightOctober 9, 2015 at 9:54 AM

    Thanks for the review, dear BB! I haven't seen this one but you got me interested. I appreciate films that rely more on good writing than on special FX. I also love Nicole Kidman and her Australian friend Naomi Watts who is my #1 fave actress. You can see them together in Flirting (1991). As I told Janie Junebug, please also watch the Brides of Christ miniseries (with Naomi Watts) released that same year. It's terrific!

    Thank you again and have a safe and happy weekend, dear friend Birgit!

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:03 PM

      Naomi Watts is such a great actress(but needs to add a few pounds). I loved her in The Impossible.

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  7. bettyOctober 9, 2015 at 9:57 AM

    I have heard of this but haven't seen it. I'll have to catch it down the road, but not any time before hubby goes out of town; that's when my imagination becomes more vivid when left alone at night :)

    betty

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:03 PM

      Oh If I am home alone, I can't watch scary movies. I tried that once, a long time ago and ended up watching a rerun of The Love Boat

      Delete
  8. Guilie CastilloOctober 9, 2015 at 12:11 PM

    This is one of my all-time favorite films! Yep, it's an intelligent movie, and that counts for a LOT in my book. The acting is flawless, and the lack of special effects just makes it all the more realistic. It's a truly, truly gorgeous film. Glad you enjoyed it, too!
    Guilie @ Quiet Laughter

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:04 PM

      It is brilliant and so well acted and subtle. I didn't guess what the truth was

      Delete
  9. Al PenwasserOctober 9, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    I'm just relieved it's not "The Sound of Music."

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:05 PM

      Oh I bet you agree with Christopher Plummer who called it The Sound of Mucus. I actually love that musical

      Delete
  10. stephen HayesOctober 9, 2015 at 4:06 PM

    I've never seen this, but you've made me think about renting it.

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  11. Anabel MarshOctober 9, 2015 at 4:56 PM

    Vague claim to fame: the person who coached the children was a drama lecturer at the college I worked at so I sort of knew her. Ok, very vague claim.

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:06 PM

      I think that is pretty cool! It's neat when one knows someone who knows someone who was in film or somehow related to a film being made

      Delete
  12. AnonymousOctober 9, 2015 at 7:10 PM

    I'm glad this didn't turn out to be the same as mine! I haven't seen this movie yet, but it sounds good!

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:07 PM

      I have to check out yours now and I am glad it isn't the same also

      Delete
  13. Su-sieee! MacOctober 9, 2015 at 7:23 PM

    Ok, you've pulled me in, Birgit. I'll see it. In broad daylight.

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    1. BirgitOctober 9, 2015 at 11:07 PM

      Big smile:) I hope you see it and let me know what you think:)

      Delete
  14. Liz A.October 9, 2015 at 11:13 PM

    I really should sit down and watch it again. I've seen it once. When I had a monster headache (or mild migraine), and I didn't appreciate it as much as I might have if I had not been in any pain.

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    1. BirgitOctober 10, 2015 at 11:36 AM

      Oh gosh If I am in bad pain the last thing I want to see is something that makes me think. I hope you see it again

      Delete
  15. angryparsnipOctober 10, 2015 at 1:56 AM

    I don't like scary movies. This one looks great and I am interested but I doubt I will ever watch it.
    Terrific review.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. BirgitOctober 10, 2015 at 11:37 AM

      I am not one for major scary films either especially slasher films but this is a good one and it's more eerie than truly scary freak out.

      Delete
  16. AnonymousOctober 10, 2015 at 8:02 AM

    Great review. I'm totally with you - I love when a movie doesn't rely on big effects, it can be so much more effectively creepy when they play on your fears in a quiet way rather than try for that big phony scare.

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    1. BirgitOctober 10, 2015 at 11:37 AM

      So true! I don't like a scare for scare's sake

      Delete
  17. Toi ThomasOctober 10, 2015 at 9:08 AM

    Great film and great review. You are right about the minimalism; it adds volumes to story and each individual scene. I also like that there's a bit of history revealed in the way people have dealth with and handled the dead.

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    1. BirgitOctober 10, 2015 at 11:39 AM

      Yes that is so right! I went to a special exhibit once and it was quite on the mark with how death was treated back in the day. I did see photos of the dead during the Victorian times and they especially had a thing with babies-very creepy

      Delete
  18. JOctober 10, 2015 at 10:34 AM

    Maybe I will see it one day, but I find I do not have time for movies lately between all my art project and blogs.

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    1. BirgitOctober 10, 2015 at 11:39 AM

      Yes one has to be into films and some people don't even own TV's which would be catastrophic to me:) sad I know, but true

      Delete
  19. Michele at Angels Bark October 10, 2015 at 1:15 PM

    Good writeup on The Others, Birgit! I forgot about that movie. I loved it. Nicole Kidman was great in it and you're right, it was very intelligent. Good word to describe that movie! It certainly did its job in putting you in the right mood. You could feel her tension and her fear. Great movie. I'll have to watch it again on Netflix...
    Michele at Angels Bark

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  20. Sandra CoxOctober 10, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. Sandra CoxOctober 10, 2015 at 4:32 PM

    Sounds way too intense for me. Also sounds like a great movie.
    Happy Thanksgiving, Birgit!

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  22. PeanutOctober 11, 2015 at 1:45 AM

    What a fab movie,.. and the bombshell ending!
    hugs, Asha

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  23. A Beer for the ShowerOctober 11, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    I don't think I've even heard of this one. I like a good psychological horror movie with some intelligence behind it, though. Horror movies that rely on nonsensical gore or cheesy jump scares - not my thing. This sounds more up my alley.

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  24. Debbie D. October 12, 2015 at 2:26 AM

    Happy Thanksgiving, Birgit!

    This movie was so well done and the ending really left an impression. "Intelligent" is a perfect description for it. Glad I guessed right.

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  25. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comOctober 12, 2015 at 11:06 AM

    You write excellent reviews, Birgit. I think Nicole Kidman is one of the most gorgeous women in the world. Still, I'm too much of a wuss. I'll appreciate your review and bypass this baby.

    Have a good week.

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  26. Chrys FeyOctober 12, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    The Others is a creepy movie. Especially the little girl. How the kids are hurt by the sunlight and how they act just makes the whole movie that much more eerie.

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  27. Chrys FeyOctober 12, 2015 at 11:39 AM

    The Others is a creepy movie. Especially the little girl. How the kids are hurt by the sunlight and how they act just makes the whole movie that much more eerie.

    ReplyDelete
  28. cleemckenzieOctober 12, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    A perfect Halloween movie. I'm making popcorn and hot cocoa and getting ready to shudder under my blankie! Thanks for the review.

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  29. SpacerGuyOctober 12, 2015 at 7:13 PM

    The review on this movie is really good and i love the twist at the end. Theres nothing better than a real horror movie, without all the fast forwarded special effects so OTT really with vampires etc whizzing through the air - I'm all for going on a fun journey and watching the drama unfold.

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  30. Sandra CoxOctober 12, 2015 at 8:55 PM

    Hope you're having a good evening, Birgit.

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  31. AnonymousOctober 13, 2015 at 6:54 AM

    I think I saw this when it came out, sometimes I watch movies when I have a migraine and don't remember until I start watching it again. ha But, I'm pretty sure because it sounds too familiar and when I read the plot I was like, Yeah, that was good! :)

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  32. Sandra CoxOctober 13, 2015 at 6:59 PM

    Hey, Birgit:)

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  33. Julie FlandersOctober 14, 2015 at 10:05 AM

    I remember seeing this when it was released and the twist totally floored me. Didn't see it coming at all. Also you are so right about the atmosphere and fog, etc. Such a creepy movie.

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  34. Crystal CollierOctober 14, 2015 at 12:43 PM

    I remember watching that one with the hubby. It's become rather iconic. Now when we watch things we'll turn to one another and say, "It's The Others all over."

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  35. J.H. MoncrieffOctober 15, 2015 at 1:39 PM

    I love this movie! One of my favourites. Extremely well done.

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  36. DMSOctober 19, 2015 at 10:03 PM

    I saw this one and agree- a great movie. Definitely a good movie to watch this fall. :)
    ~Jess

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