Time for bed children, mommy has to go perform in Moulin Rouge

Creepy chiller which ladles on the tension before reaching an unexpected climax.

Nigel Bell

This is one of those rare films from 21st century Hollywood - a movie which succeeds without gallons of blood and mounting piles of dead bodies.

That's not to say the clichés aren't present.

The film is set in a large, fog shrouded family house on Jersey in 1945, just after the Germans have left. The fog never lifts.

Three strange characters arise at the front door of Grace (Kidman), a mother of two whose husband is missing, presumed killed in the war.

I'm going to give those trick or treaters such a shock

The trio are servants, answering an advertisement placed by Grace after her previous employees mysteriously vanished.

Bizarrely, these new domestics include a gardener, Mr Tuttle, played by a white haired Eric Sykes.

Evidence that all is not well is immediate as Grace commands that every door in the house be locked before a new one is opened.

The reason is that her children, Ann and Nicholas, suffer from an affliction to daylight. Very weird.

Would you let these people loose in your house?

Eldest daughter Ann also has a habit of hearing noises and "seeing" people who shouldn't be there. She loves scaring her brother witless.

Incidentally the child performances are very good.

The great think about The Others is that everybody is strange and each has a potential secret which could explain the creepy goings on in the house.

This is a psychological thriller. There's no blood, you'll jump about three or four times but you'll always be on your guard, such is the way Amenabar builds the tension.

Although it flags on occasions, stick with the story, because the ending is totally unexpected (although there'll be those out there who will say "I guessed that after 20 minutes!).

A great film for this time of year. Let your imagination run away with you.