The Others

Main Plot

The Others follows Grace, a devout mother living in a secluded mansion with her two photosensitive children, Anne and Nicholas. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the family adheres to strict routines to protect the children from sunlight. When Grace hires three new servants to help manage the household, strange occurrences begin to unfold, leading her to believe that the house may be haunted. As Grace investigates the mysterious happenings, she uncovers unsettling truths about her family and the house itself. The tension escalates as she grapples with her fears and the increasingly eerie atmosphere, ultimately revealing deeper connections between the living and the dead. The film explores themes of isolation, grief, and the nature of reality, culminating in a series of revelations that challenge Grace's understanding of her world and her family's past.

Characters

• Nicole Kidman plays Grace Stewart, a protective mother who discovers her house is haunted while awaiting her husband's return from World War II.
• Christopher Eccleston plays Charles Stewart, the husband of the main character, Grace. He is a soldier presumed dead but returns home, adding tension and mystery to the story.
• Fionnula Flanagan plays Bertha Mills, a housekeeper who helps reveal the truth about the family's supernatural circumstances and their connection to the afterlife.

Ending Explained

In the ending of The Others, the main conflict reaches resolution as Grace discovers the truth about her family's existence. Throughout the film, Grace is haunted by the mysterious occurrences in her dark, isolated mansion, believing it to be inhabited by malevolent spirits. As the story unfolds, she becomes increasingly desperate to protect her children from what she perceives as supernatural threats. The climax occurs when Grace confronts the reality of her situation. After a series of chilling revelations, she learns that she and her children are actually the ghosts haunting the house. They have been dead all along, having perished from a tragic illness. The living inhabitants, who Grace believed to be intruders, are actually a family who has moved into the house, unaware of the spirits residing there. This revelation not only resolves the central conflict of Grace's struggle against the perceived threats but also connects to the overall narrative of grief, denial, and acceptance. In the final moments, Grace comes to terms with her death and the loss of her children, leading to a haunting yet poignant acceptance of their fate as they fade into the afterlife, leaving the living family to reclaim the home.