If you’re in the mood for a haunted house thriller, this is one of my favorites. The Others, starring Nicole Kidman, is a Spanish-Gothic horror film set in a desolate, English mansion circa 1945. Written, directed, and scored by Alejandro Amenábar, the film follows Grace Stewart (Kidman) and her two children as they settle in and explore the fog-covered property and rolling hills of their new home. The Stewarts are waiting for their husband and father to return from war when, after just a couple weeks of their moving in, the house’s once devoted caretakers disappear overnight. Three elderly servants appear on the doorstep as replacements– but these newcomers arrive knowing much more about the house than they should.
The spookiest part of this story? The two children are allergic to sunlight and spend the majority of the film walking around by candlelight or hidden under veils.
“A perfect Victorian ghost tale,” said Amenábar of his film, although most of the filming took place in Spain. Originally, the film was intended to be in Spanish and filmed in Chile, but executive producer (and Kidman’s husband at the time) Tom Cruise insisted the film would do better in English– specifically with a heavy, British over-tone, therefore creating this unique mix of culture and setting.
But don’t let the beautiful landscape and sweet British accents fool you. Nicole Kidman nearly quit after countless, intense nightmares haunted her throughout the production, and rest assured, you may be plagued as well.