The Other

I was caught off guard by the many moments of uneasy terror that "The Other" conjured up. It's a story centered on a 1930s family farm and for the first 45 minutes, it seemed like an episode of the Waltons with a couple of unfortunate accidents thrown into the plot. But with the advent of a twist that some may not see coming, it launches into a suspenseful final hour. Even though there is little to no gore to be found, there are a number of deaths that are unsettling. There is one particular shock that is very disturbing and is even more impacting due to the extreme reactions of the family members. It's very realistically portrayed and it hits hard. The Jerry Goldsmith score was very good (as usual) and it accompanied the film nicely. I did find the farm to be a pretty generic environment. It wasn't appealing but was appropriately bland. This is a film that will likely stay with you for a long time.

The Other is one of my favourite horror novels and this is a faithful adaptation. It's unsettling and I think the twist will catch most viewers off guard.