Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1hr, 40 mins
Tabitha's Rating: ****/5
Synopsis: A psychological thriller about a mother and her two children who reside in a house being imposed upon by "intruders".
Of all the ways Hollywood has come up with to scare people: serial killers, crazy with cabin fever dads, etc, the most frightening of them all, for myself at least, would have to be ghost stories. Particularly, those which play with your mind, like the Sixth Sense. This film also uses that same tactic very well. Throughout the movie, I was on the edge waiting for that frightening surpise scare I knew had to come. The music, the events, the expressions on Nicole Kidmans face all gave me the scared waiting for something to happen feeling. However in most movies, when someone says, "there, behind the curtain", they show the thing behind the curtain. Or when the music picks up to the highest note, something jumps out. Not in this movie, or the majority of it, at least. They talk about the intruders, you hear the noise they make, you know they are in the house. So you assume eventually they will pop out with blank eyes and blood dripping from they deformed bodies. But this just does not happen. This movie simply does not need those visual effects. It is the expectation of it, the way they play with your mind, that keeps that frightening feeling in the pit of your stomach all the way through the end of the film.
The ending, I of course will not give away, only to say that it is indeed suprising. In nearly every slasher flick, you can guess the killer. But in this, you will more than likely not figure out the ending until it has been revealed, much like the Sixth Sense. And when it has been revealed, you won't be disappointed.
Another major key in making a scary movie is the actors themselves. The children really are great in their parts, especially the little girl. She makes a very believeable character. Nicole Kidman is fabulous as well. Her wide eyes with the tears forming in the corners frighten me all on their own, you can feel her fear. Also, though this is off the subject, I would just like to add that Nicole Kidman is a lot prettier than that Penelope Cruz, and a much more intriguing actress. She is beautiful, especially in this movie, even with those drab dresses. Sorry, had to add that in there.
Bottomline: This only gets 4 instead of 5 stars because I have seen the Sixth Sense, and they both have a shocking ending, only in the "sense", theres a lot more jump out of your seat scares, but this movie, is definately worth seeing as well.
