The Others will release in the Criterion Collection on October 24th, 2023.

“Are you mad? I am your daughter.” Those words, spoken through a sheer veil concealing a young girl’s altered and disfigured face, struck fear into my fifteen-year-old heart as I witnessed them uttered for the first time in theaters back in 2001.  Now, over twenty-years later and after countless re-watches, the scene holds the same chilling effect in the Criterion Collection’s beautiful transfer.

The Others Plot

Also Read: Criterion Collection: La Bamba Review

Grace (Nicole Kidman) is raising her two young children in solitude as her husband is away at war in 1945. After hiring three new housekeepers to assist with the upkeep of her large manor, strange occurrences begin to haunt the family. The children — both of whom suffer from a rare condition making their skin extremely sensitive to sunlight — begin see and speak with another young child who seemingly does not exist. While Grace initially perceives these encounters to be nothing more than the fabrications of a child’s over-active imagination, she soon begins to realize that the truth is far more terrifying.

The Critique

2001 was a big year for the horror-genre with films like Joy Ride, Jeepers Creepers and — among several other notable titles — Thirteen Ghosts all scaring their way into cinemas. However, while these films placed a focus on spectacle and chose to highlight adrenaline inducing action-infused frights, The Others chose a quieter path. The film is rated PG-13 for “thematic elements and frightening moments.”

You’ll find no gore or mutilation within its imagery; instead, the film crafts an atmospheric tone of unease through its gothic setting and expert direction at the hands of filmmaker Alejandro Amenábar in his English-language debut. The Others is a ghost-story, through-and-through, and in the truest sense of the title. From the solitary setting to the use of a child’s perceived innocence, the film is built upon the structural tropes established by the genre’s classics.

The Others — even two decades later — is a story that sticks with you long after the credits have rolled and the screen has turned black. While the ending is incredibly impactful, it’s the slow-build and escalation of tension that truly make this one of the greatest ghost-stories of the century. It’s the type of movie that has something new to offer with each repeat viewing, and feels fresh upon ever revisit.

The Special Features

The two-disc release offers a plethora of extra-features, both old and new. While one disc is the 4K UHD version of the film, the Blu-ray disc contains the film as well as all of the special-features. Included along with the film is a brand-new discussion between writer/director Amenábar and film critic Pau Gómez.

There’s also a new making-of feature consisting of behind-the-scenes insight from the cast and crew. Deleted scenes, audition tapes and the film’s original trailer round out the extras, making this a must-have release for horror-fans.

Would I Recommend This Purchase? Yes, this is a Halloween treat that any cinephile would be pleased to get in their bucket of goodies.

Is It Worth a Blind Buy? Considering this was a blind-watch for me and I loved it, I’d say so. Yes.

10/10

Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.