Nicole Kidman Would Love to Revisit ‘The Others’

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Nicole Kidman, the esteemed actress from Hollywood who’s captivated audiences with films such as Eyes Wide Shut, The Hours, and more recently, the gripping thriller Babygirl, has shared her preference for a character she’d like to reprise. Interestingly, the Academy Award recipient holds a special fondness for one of her rare roles in the horror genre and yearns to play it once more.

The actress discussed her part in the praised thriller “Babygirl,” directed by Halina Reijn, where she acted alongside Harris Dickinson with The Guardian. Not only that, but she also fielded queries from readers and celebrities she’s friendly with. Some of the well-known personalities like Naomi Watts, Mark Strong, Sam Mendes, and Hugh Jackman utilized this chance to inquire about anything they desired.

In a conversation with Reese Witherspoon during their work on HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” Kidman was asked this: “From all the characters you’ve brought to life, is there one that you deeply miss and would like to revisit?” She shared her desire to reprise the role of Grace Stewart, the matriarch in the gothic horror film “The Others.

To be honest, it’s the character Grace from ‘The Others’ I’d most like to revisit. I think this film often gets overshadowed, but I was really drawn to her character.

In Shudder’s latest addition, “The Others”, Nicole Kidman portrays a rigidly disciplined woman residing in a sprawling mansion during the 1940s, along with her two children Anne and Nicholas. Her spouse is absent, fighting in the war, leaving Grace to tend to her children who are severely sensitive to sunlight. Exposure could potentially be fatal for them.

One day, three unknown individuals come to her door seeking work as caretakers, which Grace agrees to provide. Soon after their arrival, peculiar occurrences start happening: curtains move mysteriously, and the children report hearing strange sounds. Grace assumes these events are due to the newcomers, but the truth behind the eerie happenings turns out to be much darker.

In the cinematic world, Alejandro Amenábar, who previously directed “Open Your Eyes,” made an impressive mark with his Spanish production, “The Others.” This film became a significant box-office success for its then relatively unknown director, as it was his first major Hollywood venture. The movie amassed a staggering $210 million at the global box office against a budget of just $17 million. Moreover, Nicole Kidman’s performance in “The Others” garnered her recognition from various award-giving bodies, with nominations for prestigious awards. Despite being a horror movie, her portrayal was critically acclaimed and remains one of the most memorable performances in the horror genre during the 2000s.

‘The Others’ Is the Best Modern Execution of the Gothic Horror Genre

2001’s “The Others,” currently rated at 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, stands out as a remarkable representation of its horror genre. Unlike some films in the same category, Alejandro Amenábar avoids excessive jump scares, reliance on “evil children” motifs, and heavy use of ghostly visuals. Instead, the film’s effectiveness lies primarily in Amenábar’s subtle visual storytelling, a haunting yet beautiful musical score, and exceptional performances by Nicole Kidman, Fionnula Flanagan, and Christopher Eccleston.

As a movie critic, I can confidently assert that Kidman plays a pivotal role in striking the perfect equilibrium between elegance and chilling horror elements within this film. Her portrayal echoes Deborah Kerr’s mesmerizing performance in “The Innocents,” where complexity was masterfully conveyed through paranoia and hysteria, without resorting to the excessive melodrama common among some final girls in the horror genre. It’s no surprise that she yearns to revisit her overlooked character, Grace – a role that undeniably ranks among the most intriguing of her illustrious career.

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2025-01-06 21:31