El otro

I'm a thirtysomething who saw this movie as a kid, and it still ranks among the scariest movies that I've ever seen. I've not had luck locating it on video, but, if you find it, check it out. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. This is one scary movie that you're not likely to forget.

I remember very clearly that parts of the Thomas Tryon novel just about had me wetting myself, it was that scary, and I wondered if the movie version would do it justice. In many ways, it nearly surpasses the book...which is something that rarely ever happens. Some people don't care for the performances by Chris and Martin Udvarnoky as the twins, Niles and Holland, but the fact that they weren't typical "Hollywoodized" child stars enabled them to give more naturalistic performances, thereby making them more believable...and creepy.

And what can you say about one of theater's Grande Dames, Uta Hagen? I think this was the only film I've ever seen her in, and she's spectacular. Well before "bad kids" became a genre cliché, this one beats all the other like-minded thrillers by a mile, even THE OMEN. (Well, maybe not THE BAD SEED, though.)

And as the cherry-on-top, Jerry Goldsmith turned in one of his best scores on this one. And DP Robert Surtees' work is so beautiful in contrast to the sheer horror it has us bear witness to...

Director Mulligan deserved all the praise he got for THE OTHER, and more acclaim than he did get because of the fact that it was considered a "low-class horror movie." When you watch it, though, you may not think so by the chilling ending. See if this doesn't stay with you for weeks afterward, the way it did for me...

I saw this movie about 20 years or so ago it still haunts me to this day. I will never EVER forget it! It creeped me out so bad, and certain very disturbing images still come into my mind. I saw it back then, and will not ever want to see it again. If you want to be scared, or be haunted and are a fan of The Excorcist, Omen, etc I dare you to watch this movie. YOU'll never forget it! I don't care how long ago you have seen it, trust me it will stay with you!!

Two twins cause mayhem in their small community after their father's passing, but only one of them is truly evil.

The Other has that great slow burn pacing that was so popular at the time. It's also darker and bleaker than just about any other horror film I can think of from that era. Children, elderly people, and even infants are put into harm's way more than the usual teenagers or twenty-somethings in these kinds of movies. Chris and Martin Udvarnoky are both excellent child actors who make each of their characters unique and well defined. It's also nice to see stage legend Uta Hagen in a rare and very powerful film role. It's a shame she never did more on film, because she's wonderful here and the heart of the film.

Like a lot of people here, I grew up with this movie. I believe that CBS started showing it in prime time as early as 1973. In any advent, they showed it a lot through the 70's, and I think I saw it every time. A lot of it made a huge impression on me as a kid:"Holland" performing the magic trick for his elderly neighbor, the kid jumping in the barn on the pitchfork (and the next cut is his casket being taken away), the circus freak show..... Most of all, director Robert Mulligan and company make the most benign setting (rural 1930s America) a scary place.

I just watched this again on AMC last night, and it holds up pretty well. Most people should see the twist coming, and the feel is distinctly early 70's California (in geography and look). However, this is miles above all those Exorcist ripoffs and 80's slasher films. See it!