The Others (2001)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Alejandro Amenábar

Writer:

Alejandro Amenábar (written by)

Release Date:

10 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Sooner or later she'll see them, then everything will be different.

Plot:

A woman who lives in a darkened old house with her two photosensitive children becomes convinced that her family home is haunted.

Plot Keywords:

Servant | Mansion | Photosensitive | WWII | Sunlight

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 22 wins & 36 nominations

Cast

Nicole Kidman	...	Grace Stewart
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Mrs. Bertha Mills
Christopher Eccleston	...	Charles Stewart
Alakina Mann	...	Anne Stewart
James Bentley	...	Nicholas Stewart
Eric Sykes	...	Mr. Edmund Tuttle
Elaine Cassidy	...	Lydia
Renée Asherson	...	Old Lady
Gordon Reid	...	Assistant
Keith Allen	...	Mr. Marlish
Michelle Fairley	...	Mrs. Marlish
Alexander Vince	...	Victor Marlish
Ricardo López	...	Second Assistant
Aldo Grilo	...	Gardener

Directed by
Alejandro Amenábar

Writing credits
Alejandro Amenábar		(written by)

Produced by
Fernando Bovaira	....	producer
Eduardo Chapero-Jackson	....	associate producer
Tom Cruise	....	executive producer
José Luis Cuerda	....	producer
Miguel Ángel González	....	line producer
Emiliano Otegui	....	line producer
Sunmin Park	....	producer
Rick Schwartz	....	executive producer
Paula Wagner	....	executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alejandro Amenábar

Cinematography by
Javier Aguirresarobe

Film Editing by
Nacho Ruiz Capillas

Casting by
Shaheen Baig
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Benjamín Fernández

Art Direction by
Benjamín Fernández		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Emilio Ardura
Elli Griff
Benjamín Fernández		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Sonia Grande

Makeup Department
Montse Boqueras	....	makeup assistant (as Montserrat Boqueras)
Mara Collazo	....	makeup assistant
Ana López Puigcerver	....	makeup artist (as Ana López-Puigcerver)
Belén López Puigcerver	....	hair stylist (as Belén López-Puigcerver)
Robert McCann	....	makeup design and concept: Ms. Kidman
Peter Owen	....	wigs design and concept: Ms. Kidman
Teresa Rabal	....	hair stylist
Kerry Warn	....	hairdresser design and concept: Ms. Kidman

Production Management
José Antonio García Tapia	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Luis Casacuberta	....	second second assistant director
Javier Chinchilla	....	first assistant director
Guillermo Escribano	....	second assistant director
Carlos Santana	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Gonzalo Anso	....	stand-by props
Ángel Balaguer	....	master plasterer
Salvador Comes	....	stand-by painter
Pedro Jesús De la Fuente	....	construction buyer (as Pedro De La Fuente)
José G. Donado	....	master painter (as José García Donado)
Steve Ellis	....	illustrator: main titles
Alejandro Fernández	....	draftsman
José Alberto Fernández	....	prop runner: Santander
Rubén Fernández	....	prop runner: Santander
Carlos Gil	....	stand-by props
Alfonso Guitiérrez	....	prop runner: Santander
Catalina Madurga	....	art trainee
Julián Martín	....	scenic artist
Natalia Montes	....	storyboard artist
Ramón Moya	....	construction manager
José Luis Navarro	....	stand-by carpenter
Blas Antonio Padilla	....	stand-by props
Sergio Pérez	....	prop runner: Santander
Clemente Rivas	....	stand-by props
Sergio Rozas	....	storyboard artist
Antonio Sánchez	....	master carpenter
Germán Segovia	....	prop runner: Santander
Enrique Vázquez	....	prop buyer
Juan Ignacio Viñuales	....	stand-by props

Sound Department
John Bailey	....	assistant sound engineer
Chris Barrett	....	assistant sound engineer (as Chris Barret)
John Bateman	....	adr recordist
Les Brock	....	stereo sound consultant: SDDS
Sergio Bürmann	....	boom operator (as Sergio Burmann)
Tim Cavagin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlos Culebras	....	boom operator
Guillaume Delamare	....	foley recordist
Isabel Díaz Cassou	....	sound designer
Rod Duggan	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Álex F. Capilla	....	assistant sound editor (as Alejandro Fernández Capilla)
Geoff Foster	....	sound engineer
Carlos Lidón	....	cable person
Julien Naudin	....	foley artist
Alfonso Raposo	....	adr recordist (as Sito Raposo)
Maite Rivera	....	sound editor
James Seddon	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Steve Single	....	sound re-recording mixer
María Steinberg	....	assistant sound editor
Ricardo Steinberg	....	sound
Robert Thompson	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Graham Aikman	....	special effects assistant: The Weatherman/F&P
Derek Langley	....	special effects supervisor: The Weatherman/F&P
Pedro Moreno	....	special effects assistant: The Weatherman/F&P
Bernard Newton	....	special effects assistant: The Weatherman/F&P
Félix Bergés	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Nike Alonso	....	special effects digital production: Daiquiri
Rosa Ángel	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
John Benn	....	scanning and recording editorial: Cinesite (as Jon Benn)
Félix Bergés	....	visual effects supervisor
Juanjo Carretero	....	scanning and recording: Telson
Ana Cortés	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Carmen Díaz	....	3D computer animator: Daiquiri
Eduardo Díaz	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Daniel Fernández	....	3D computer animator: Daiquiri
David L. Guaita	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Simon Hughes	....	scanning and recording supervisor: Cinesite
Antonio Lado	....	3D computer animator: Daiquiri
Iván López	....	digital matte painter: Daiquiri
Carlos Martínez	....	optical effects: Story Film
Gregorio Molina	....	digital matte painter: Daiquiri
Gonzalo Moure	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Ana Nuñez	....	optical effects: Story Film
Pablo Núñez	....	optical effects: Story Film
Antonio Ojeda	....	optical effects: Story Film
Guillermo Orbe	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Stuart Pearson	....	head scanning and recording: Cinesite
Magoga Piñas	....	3D computer animator: Daiquiri
Rafa Solorzano	....	compositing supervisor: Daiquiri
Susana Suárez	....	special effects digital production: Daiquiri
Carlos Trijueque	....	digital compositor: Daiquiri
Dan Ashton	....	scanning and recording (uncredited)
Úrsula García	....	visual effects coordinator: pre-production (uncredited)
Todd Hemsley	....	compositor (uncredited)
Lorraine Johnson	....	scanning: Cinesite (uncredited)
Simon Johnson	....	scanning: Cinesite (uncredited)
Raphaël Kourilsky	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Juan Benito Cuevas	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Sonia Gonzalo	....	stunts
Miguel Pedregosa	....	stunt coordinator
Esther Ramos	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Arturo Aldegune	....	Steadicam operator (as Arturo Aldegunde)
Enrique Bello	....	gaffer
Stanley B. Burns	....	still photographer: post mortem original (as Stanley B. Burns, M.D.)
Juan de Andrés	....	clapper loader: second unit (as Juan De Andrés)
Gustavo de la Fuente	....	clapper loader (as Gustavo De La Fuente)
Antonio Fernández Santamaría	....	grip (as Antonio Fdez Santamaría)
Carlos García	....	electrician
Rafael García Martos	....	gaffer (as Rafael Martos)
Salvador Gómez Calle	....	focus puller: second unit (as Salvador Gómez)
José Luis González	....	key grip
José Luis González Jr.	....	grip
Ángel Granell	....	electrician
Teresa Isasi	....	still photographer: post mortem new
Julio Madurga	....	camera operator
Eugenio Martínez	....	electrician
José Luis Molero	....	electrician
Manuel Outomuro	....	still photographer: special promotional
Ramiro Sabell	....	focus puller
Alberto Sánchez Beltrán	....	electrician (as Alberto Sánchez)

Casting Department
Camilla Evans	....	casting assistant: Jina Jay Casting
Immaculada Iglesias	....	casting: Santander stand-ins

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claudia Adriazola	....	seamstress
Ana Cuerda	....	wardrobe assistant
Paco Delgado	....	wardrobe assistant
Eva Salas	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
María José Almela	....	assistant editor (as Mª José Almela)
Maite Bermúdez	....	post-production assistant
Alfonso Berrocal	....	second assistant editor
Yolanda Cáceres	....	color timer
Felisa Catalinas	....	negative cutter
Manuela Díaz	....	post-production: Sogecine
Eladio Fernández	....	post-production: Sogecine
Marian Fernández	....	post-production assistant
Ángela Iglesias	....	second assistant editor
David López-Puigcerver	....	post-production assistant
Carmen Mesa	....	negative cutter
Javier Navasques	....	second assistant editor
Isabel Ranz	....	second assistant editor
Manuel Salgueiro	....	telecine operator
Carolina Martínez Urbina	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Alejandro Amenábar	....	orchestrator
Xavier Capellas	....	orchestrator
Lucio Godoy	....	music producer
Lucio Godoy	....	orchestrator
Claudio Ianni	....	conductor: The London Session Orchestra
Claudio Ianni	....	orchestrator
Jean-Marc Luisada	....	musician: "Vals Opus 69 No.1 {Op. Posth.}"
Randy Spendlove	....	music executive: Dimension Films
Gavyn Wright	....	concert master: The London Session Orchestra

Other crew
Svetlana Albitskaia	....	double: Ms. Kidman
Svetlana Albitskaia	....	stand-in
Pablo Alfaro	....	financial director
Claire Amondaray	....	production trainee
Julie Austin	....	drama coach: children
Miguel Balanzategui	....	video link
Irene Ballesteros	....	stand-in
Susan Ball	....	chaperone
Beatriz Bodegas	....	legal department: Sogecine
Felicia Bushman	....	assistant: Ms. Kidman
José Ramón De La Isla	....	stand-in
Carlos Del Hoyo	....	press and public relations
Sophie De Mac Mahon	....	production: Sogecine
Javier de Oleza	....	accountant: Sogecine (as Javier Oleza)
Javier de Oleza	....	administration staff: Sogecine (as Javier Oleza)
Luis Dorado	....	press and public relations
Elizabeth Every	....	chaperone
Elizabeth Every	....	tutor
Paula Farias	....	unit doctor
Daya Fernandez	....	press and public relations (as Daya Fernández)
Marian Fernández	....	production assistant
Montserrat Fernández	....	stand-in
Sandra Frieze	....	dialogue coach
Luis Fernando Garrido	....	stand-in
Brian Gibbs	....	production accountant
Antonio Giménez	....	marketing: Sogecine
Montserrat González	....	legal department: Sogecine
Flora Herránz	....	press and public relations
Didi Hopkins	....	drama coach: children
Rafael Hostelería	....	caterer
Gracy Hunter	....	press and public relations
Alejandro Jiménez	....	stand-in
Javier Leal	....	manager: laboratory
Walter Leonard	....	translator
Ángeles López	....	legal department: Sogecine
Sol López	....	assistant: Mr. Bovaira
Gaynor Victoria Mann	....	chaperone
Javier Martín	....	accountant: Sogecine
Javier Martín	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Luis Martín	....	accountant: Sogecine
Luis Martín	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Gloria Menchacatorre	....	public relations assistant
Laura Muñoz-Rojas	....	craft service
Eva Muslera	....	controller
Trilby Norton	....	production coordinator
Juan Pando	....	consultant: historical
J. Ethan Park	....	production: Maxmedia
Matt Pascale	....	production: Maxmedia
Maite Payero	....	secretary: Las Producciones del Escorpión
Juan Luis Pedrero	....	assistant accountant
Guillermo Peña	....	manager: laboratory
Luis Pérez Dávila	....	security coordinator
Juana Ramos	....	accountant: Sogecine
Juana Ramos	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Orly Ravid	....	production: Maxmedia
Luis Revuelta	....	stand-in
Nuria Rodríguez	....	unit doctor
Nicholas Roe	....	assistant: Ms. Wagner (as Nick Roe)
Verónica Roldán	....	production: Sogecine
Cecilia Rubio	....	legal department: Sogecine
Andrea Ruiz	....	stand-in
Jennifer Sánchez	....	stand-in
Francisco Sanchez Ortiz	....	marketing: Sogecine (as Francisco Sanchez)
Jonathan Sanger	....	production consultant
Charo Santamaría	....	accountant: Sogecine
Charo Santamaría	....	administration staff: Sogecine
Germán Sela	....	marketing: Sogecine
Michael Soppelsa	....	security supervisor
Carmen Soriano	....	script supervisor
Sandra Sousa	....	stand-in
Daniel M. Villalba	....	production runner
Jeffrey Winter	....	assistant: Ms. Park
Jeffrey Winter	....	production: Maxmedia
Pablo Zorilla	....	production trainee
David Greenbaum	....	executive assistant: Harvey Weinstein (uncredited)
Christopher Hanada	....	assistant: Ms. Wagner (uncredited)
Garson Yu	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Antonio Buenaga	....	special thanks
Vicki Cherkas	....	special thanks
Michael Doven	....	special thanks
Laurent Dupreche	....	special thanks
Geoffrey Gilmore	....	special thanks
Diego González-Longoria	....	special thanks
Michèle Grignon	....	special thanks
Elaine Haggis	....	special thanks: Bow Street Magistrates
Pat Kingsley	....	special thanks
Elliot Kleinberg	....	special thanks
Ken Kleinberg	....	special thanks
Rick Nicita	....	special thanks
Emanuel Nunez	....	special thanks
Catherine Olim	....	special thanks
Carmen Prieto	....	special thanks
Joaquín Samperio	....	special thanks
Robert Seidenberg	....	special thanks
Linda Smith	....	special thanks: Bow Street Magistrates
Greg Trattner	....	special thanks
Kurt Woolner	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Cruise/Wagner Productions
• Sociedad General de Cine (SOGECINE) S.A.
• Las Producciones del Escorpión S.L.
• Dimension Films (in association with)
• Canal+ (uncredited)
• Lucky Red (uncredited)
• Miramax Films (uncredited)

Distributors

• Dimension Films (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Angel Films (2002) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2001) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Moonlight Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Prooptiki (2001) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Fox Crime (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• RCV Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• United King Films
• Universal Pictures (2002) (Germany) (video)

Special Effects

• Cinesite (scanning and recording: London) (as Cinesite)
• Daiquiri (digital visual effects)
• F & P S.L. (atmospheric and mechanical) (as F & P)
• Telson (scanning and recording: Spain)
• The Weatherman (atmospheric and mechanical)

Other Companies

• A.M. Hire Ltd.  props (as A.M. Hire Ltd.)
• Aguas de Cabreiroá  thanks
• Air Studios  music recording and mixing
• Almirall  props
• Antonio Tabernero  stills processing
• Asesores De Relaciones Públicas Y Comunicación  production: public and press relations
• Auto Cadenas  production cars
• Ayuntamiento de Arena de Iguña  thanks
• Ayuntamiento de Corrales de Buelna  thanks
• Ayuntamiento de El Álamo  thanks
• BBC Costume Store  wigs (as B.B.C.)
• Bapty Ltd.  props
• C.B.A.  extras casting
• Car & Crane  grip equipment
• Caser  insurance
• Central Eléctrica de Bárcena de Pie de Concha  thanks
• Centro Cultural 'La Vidriera de Maliaño'  thanks
• Centro de Jardinería de Cartes  greens
• Cinesol  portable generators
• Cinetel  lighting equipment
• Classical & Contemporary  props
• Comunidad de Vecinos de las Fraguas  thanks
• Consejería de Cultura del Gobierno de Cantabria  thanks
• Construcciones Moya  construction
• Copra Films  foley recording
• Cornejo  costumes (as Cornejo)
• Cosprop  costumes (as Cosprop)
• Coupe  camera car
• Crisol  travel agency
• Delphoss  extras casting
• Dirección Gral de Carreteras del Gobierno de Cantabria  thanks
• Dirección Gral de Turismo e Industria de Cantabria  thanks
• Domenech Foto S.A.  photographic material
• EPC  camera equipment provided by
• Escuela Pública Leopoldo Torres Quevedo  thanks
• Escuela de Teatro de Santander  thanks
• Europcar  rental cars
• Exa S.A.  adr studio (as Exa-Madrid)
• FedEx  courier service (as Federal Express)
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Fontal-Lázaro  transportation
• Fotosíntesis  stills processing
• Fremap Asistencia  insurance
• GS B  courier service
• Goldstein & Steinberg  supervising sound editing
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance (as Great Northern)
• Guardia Civil de Tráfico de Cantabria  thanks
• H.J. Spiller Hire Ltd.  props (as H.J. Spiller)
• Instituto Meteorológico Santander  meteorology
• Jefatura de Tráfico de Cantabria  thanks
• Jina Jay Casting  casting
• Ken Paul Ltd.  props (as Ken Paul)
• Kleinberg Lopez Lange Brisbin and Cuddy  production counsel
• Legis Cine S.A.  payroll company
• London Session Orchestra, The  music performed by
• Madrid Film S.A.  laboratory
• Mateos  props
• Megino S.L.  generators (as Megino)
• Megino S.L.  motorhomes (as Megino)
• Mengíbar  props
• Motion Control Cameras Ltd.  visual effects
• Moviecam  camera equipment provided by
• Nereo Hnos.  ambulance provided by
• Newman Hire  props
• Noble Denton Group  meteorology (as Noble Denton)
• Oxigen Estudios  stage
• PMK Public Relations  publicity (as PMK)
• Perios Props  props
• Procoex  customs broker
• Props Galore  props
• Prosegur (PSG)  security (as Prosegur)
• Protección Civil de Corrales de Buelna  thanks
• Safeguard Investigation and Security Services  security (as S.I.S.S.)
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Story Film  end credits
• Story Film  optical effects
• Stuart Learmonth Hire  props (as Stuart Lermonth)
• The Burns Archive  post mortem original photographs
• Top Class  production cars
• Twickenham Film Studios  adr studio (as Twickenham-London)
• Twickenham Film Studios  sound mixing (as Twickenham-London)
• Viuda de Ruiz  wigs
• Vázquez Hermanos  props (as Vázquez)
• dB Post Production  adr studio (as Db Post-London)
• yU+Co.  main title design and production (as YU+Co.)

Also Known As:

Les autres (France)
Los otros (Spain)
The Darkness (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and frightening moments.

Runtime:

101 min | Finland:104 min | USA:104 min

Country:

USA | Spain | France | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG-13 (certificate number not assigned) | Japan:U | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Madrid, Spain

Company:

Cruise/Wagner Productions

Trivia:

The disease the children have is an actual disease known as xeroderma pigmentosum. It is very rare with roughly a thousand people in the world that have it.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the fight between Grace and Anne in the bedroom, the lamp on the floor disappears and reappears between shots.

Quotes:

Grace: [regarding Lydia] Was she born like that?
Mrs. Mills: Beg your pardon, ma'am?
Grace: The girl. Was she born a mute?
Mrs. Mills: No.
[looks uncomfortable]
Mrs. Mills: I think I've finished here, ma'am. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go and see if Mr. Tuttle needs a hand.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Vals Opus 69 No.1 (Op. Posth.)

Fairly decent and original concept.

I'll have to admit that I put off watching this movie despite being told by several friends that it was pretty good and worth checking out. That's mostly because "scary" movies usually turn out to be nothing but crap riddled, cheap thrill fests with terrible acting by actors just looking for their next handout...not to mention directors that care nothing about the progress of their careers. That and the slew of B- horror/thriller movies that seemed to come out very close together along with this movie made me a little apprehensive. However, I was pleasantly surprised.

First off, I'd like to say that I have yet to see The Sixth Sense, so I cannot comment on any similarities between the two films that I have heard exist.

Grace (Kidman) and her two young photosensitive (X.P.) children live in a sprawling old house together in England in the 1940's and await the return of their father and husband who went off to fight the Germans in WWII. As a result of the children's very rare and dangerous skin condition, all of the house's curtains must be shut during the day and all of the doors must be closed and locked to prevent any accidental solar exposure to the children. Despite the warnings from her children and new found servants, strange things begin to happen in the house which Grace chooses not to accept or investigate...partly because of her zealous religious beliefs which leave her closed minded and ignorant to things outside her psychological realm of thinking. Sooner or later, she will have to come to terms with what's going on...

Kidman's acting is admirable in this movie, and although I usually have a hard time enjoying her films, I felt she did a very decent job here. I think she was born to play a stubborn, hard nosed, uptight tart, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I especially enjoyed the acting performances from both of the children. Both are talented child actors and were definitely helped by the script which captured what it's like to be a child. I was constantly reminded of my own childhood amongst the belittling and teasing between the two, and of course the naive and adorable fears. The film is shot beautifully and has a lot of atmosphere, partly due to the fact that since the children are photosensitive, the house must always be dark, and the director definitely likes to play with that. There's something else that helps the film's atmosphere as well, the fog, which obviously adds to the general spookiness. But I'll leave that one alone as it plays an important role herein. The score helps as well, and is well placed and executed.

Overall, I found this to be a very respectable and enjoyable film in almost all respects, and I no longer consider Kidman a pretty face begging for nude scenes. I felt it was very well thought out, and if it weren't for a minor plothole involving Grace's husband, I would have ranked it higher.

Easily a solid 8/10.