If cinema tells us anything about children, it’s that they’re inherently evil. Children and adolescents are often the scariest thing you’ll find in a horror film. Damien traumatised an entire generation in the Omen films, whilst more recently small Japanese girls terrorised a whole new generation. Much of director Robert Mulligan’s career has focussed on the world through the eyes of the young. In The Others, he takes that fascination to a whole new terrifying level.
Life seems idyllic during the summer of ’35 for two twins living on a family farm. Niles and Holland Perry are quite a pair. Identical twins, Holland has an eye for mischief whilst Niles often ends up taking the blame. Niles carries a tobacco tin with several treasures inside, including the Perry family ring and an item mysteriously wrapped in wax paper. Their mother (Diana Muldaur) grieves in isolation upstairs for her recently departed husband. Supervision is left up to their grandmother (Uta Hagen), a Russian immigrant with psychic abilities. As the summer progresses, Holland’s pranks become increasingly deadly, leaving a trail of tragedy in their wake.
The Others is an ingenious film which layers on the intrigue on top of the drama. It’s a classic horror much in the same vein as Dario Argento. However, Mulligan gives it an undeniably middle-American spin. Indeed, there’s an air of nostalgia which hangs over The Others, the director clearly pining for a more simple and golden era. Chris and Martin Udvarnocky both put in eerie and unforgeable performances as the unlikely duo. The Others remains a mysterious and compelling psychological horror, which reminds us that children should be avoided at all costs.
Special Edition Contents
Beautiful 1080p high-definition transfer on the Blu-ray and a progressive DVD encode
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Original theatrical trailer
36-page booklet featuring new writing by critic and programmer Aaron Hillis, a 1972 interview with Robert Mulligan, and rare archival imagery
The Other is released on Dual Format by Eureka Entertainment on February 23.
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