The Other on DVD (1972)

Steven West from Norfolk, England , 17/04/2006

With a subtly conveyed twist that has since become de rigeur in mainstream supernatural horror movies, this early 70's chiller has long been an underrated gem of the genre. Beginning as a lushly photographed rites of passage movie about two twin brothers, it slowly turns into a genuinely frightening story of grief, loss and cold-blooded murder. With some truly startling moments in the final reels, excellent performances and a quietly malevolent score by Jerry Goldsmith, THE OTHER is a mini-masterpiece of subdued horror.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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Gary Carmichael from SCOTLAND , 09/07/2006

A deceptively quiet, disturbing chiller from director Robert Mulligan (To Kill A Mockingbird) and novelist/screenwriter Thomas Tryon. In 1930s rural Connecticut, young Niles (Chris Udvarnoky) tries to resist the evil influence of his twin Holland (Martin Udvarnoky), as terrible ‘accidents’ wrack the neighbourhood (climaxing in one of the nastiest shocks in cinema).

It has a big reveal an hour in (much copied recently), but there’s more creepiness to come, and you’re left with a lasting chill and a mystery which could be supernatural or psychopathic. The Udvarnokys, who never acted again, are up there with Danny Lloyd of The Shining as one-shot horror kids

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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Martyn Cornelius from Devon England , 17/04/2007

WOW! I was so glad I saw this horror movie. I thought I'd seen all the old horror greats but I was wrong. If someone mentioned this film to me before I would not have had a clue what it was, but now I have the advantage over most others. The Other is, sadly, a film that time forgot and many horror fans have not even seen.

But in the movie industry its overwhelming influence on later films can be clearly seen when watching it. From Celia, The Good Son,

The Brood, The Omen, The Sixth Sense and The Others, it has had a unprecedented inpact on practically every child-related horror film made since.

The Other is set in a rural farming community, quite picturesque, and the cinematography, really explores this.

For the first hour this film is not a horror film and some viewer's patience may be sorely tested. The first act or two is an intimate character study. We are introduced to all the characters and their lives in this community and by the 45th minute you are well and truly involved in the lives of these characters. Alot of what unfolds feels very like the films, The Good Son and Celia, mixed with Little House on the Prairie and a rural family Disney film.

The Good Son is about a friendship between two unrelated kids, one of them full of evil intent, like Holland of the Holland-Niles brother relationship.

Celia portrays mischievious children in a rural community, similar to that of The Other. Also, I am sure someone plays a haunting tune on a harmonica. Am I wrong? Where have I seen something very similar?

The first hour may not be scary but a tension nonetheless builds between the two brothers and the 'games' they get into, with the help of Uta Hagan's beautifully portrayed character of Grandma Ada.

What we see is quite confusing though and anyone already half asleep may not give a second hour a chance. You may also find yourself almost expecting Mary Poppins to make an appearance, very soon.

Hopefully some sparse shocks like the 'death by pitchfork' scene or the 'rat incidence' will keep everyone glued to the screen.

Those patient will be rewarded. That's not to say you should expect a full overblown horror film with all the now boring horror trends of gore, sex, violence and extreme language. For this is not the type of film it intends to be.

In fact The Other may be the most subtle horror film ever made, more subtle than The Sixth Sense and The Others.

Even in the second half we don't see too much of anything, which makes it doubly scary. You never know exactly what you are seeing or what is happening. The perfect example, without trying to spoil anything, is when the townsfolk discover the contents of the barrel, which even in this day and age you may not get away with easily.

And yes, there is a twist, which if The Other was more well-known would be what most people will remember this film for and would be famous. Indeed, if The Other was made in the last 10 years, it would certainly cause a buzz on Internet newsgroups, etc.

While, being hugely influential to future films the idea to put a narrative twist does not appear at the end of the film, as has become accepted and expected nowadays but bang in the middle of the film, where you least expect it, which is a twist in itself.

Suddenly, the film propels into something different altogether and as events unfold from here, this film feels slightly more like the horror movie we half-expected.

The acting is great and so is the photography, but it is the story that is the highpoint of this film. And the last shot will not fail to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. And so will that harmonica tune (Competition for the Duelin' Banjo's in Deliverance, maybe??)

A must see for all horror films!

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

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itstinks , 01/10/2008

It must have been fairly scary and shocking at the time but for todays savvy audience who have seen too many films with the same premise can spot the twist well in advance and although the young boys do very well with the hokum dialogue it is no longer scary.

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Steven West from Norfolk, England , 17/04/2006

With a subtly conveyed twist that has since become de rigeur in mainstream supernatural horror movies, this early 70's chiller has long been an underrated gem of the genre. Beginning as a lushly photographed rites of passage movie about two twin brothers, it slowly turns into a genuinely frightening story of grief, loss and cold-blooded murder. With some truly startling moments in the final reels, excellent performances and a quietly malevolent score by Jerry Goldsmith, THE OTHER is a mini-masterpiece of subdued horror.

  3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

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itstinks , 01/10/2008

It must have been fairly scary and shocking at the time but for todays savvy audience who have seen too many films with the same premise can spot the twist well in advance and although the young boys do very well with the hokum dialogue it is no longer scary.

Read all highest rated reviews