On the Channel Island of Jersey just after the War, young mother Grace lives with her two young children, Anne and Nicholas. Her husband, Charles, an Army officer, still missing believed dead. They live in a sprawling house in its own grounds, but the children are photosensitive, direct light bringing them out in a rash and causing breathing difficulties. Grace has imposed a strict regime of shutters on the windows and the dictat that no door can be opened before one has been closed and locked. With the last set of servants leaving hurriedly, another set, gardener Mr. Tuttle, housekeeper Mrs. Mills and the mute Lydia arrive, having been sent by 'the Agency'. Grace informs them of the strict rules. Anne and Nicholas claim to have seen 'others' in the house, two parents, an old woman, and a child called Victor. Grace, a deeply religious woman, is alarmed when doors are found unopened, lights suddenly come on in darkened rooms and, most shockingly, a piano lid which she had expressly locked, is found opened after it is heard being played. There is no one else in the music room. Not wanting to alarm her further, Mr. Tuttle covers the gravestones in the grounds over with leaves. The children become more insistent on the existence of Victor and 'the others', unnerving Grace, who appears to be on the verge of a breakdown. Wanting to bring in the local priest she ventures out into the foggy grounds of the house, only to meet her husband, Charles, returned from the war. He seems cold and oddly distant and the two spend the night together, but come the morning he is gone once more. Grace leaves her bedroom to find the servants have gone and all the curtains have been removed, putting the children in grave danger. She manages to get them into a dark room, the only one in the house and, loading a shotgun, she goes from room to room, trying to discover who has done this and to uncover the mysterious 'others'. Finding an old photo album she suddenly discovers the actual identity of the trio of servants and realises they are coming back into the house. With the children hiding in a cupboard the servants give Grace the final clues as to the identity of 'the others'. Hearing noises in a nearby room, Grace walks slowly to the door and prepares to confront them.... Co-produced by Tom Cruise this is no bland Hollywood production but a truly chilling and genuinely atmospheric tale, boasting terrific direction, excellent art direction and photography, Cantabria in Spain standing in moodily for Jersey, and a simply superb performance from Nicole Kidman as the icy Grace, torn between her children's needs' to be kept in the dark (literally) and her own disintegrating sanity. Director Amanabar handles the buildups superbly, really cranking up tension, and despite the relatively lax certificate this has some real scares and at least one really shocking jolt. All the cast are well placed in their roles and although an audience may believe they are ahead of the plot, the final reel brings some genuine surprises. Highly recommended.