The Other

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Dave S With a screenplay by Tom Tryon based on his bestselling novel, The Other is further proof that what works on the written page doesn’t always translate well to the big screen. Director Robert Mulligan turns what was a truly chilling book into a thoroughly tepid movie…and it’s sort of hard to say why. The performances are decent, the cinematography is impressive at times, and the story, as implausible as it may seem, is of interest. It might have something to do with a bunch of secondary characters who seem to exist only to be killed off or the fact that there are so many characters that they feel like nothing more than wallpaper. It might have to do with the unimpactful score by Jerry Goldsmith. It might have something to do with the convoluted plot. Regardless of the reason or reasons, The Other is a horror/thriller that lacks both horror or thrills. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 11/22/24 Full Review Bill C I saw this movie about when it came out. All the girls I knew wanted to see it, so it was unlikely that if you asked one to go see it that she’d say no. So I took a date to it. I had no idea what the thing was about and couldn’t wait for it to end. I just saw it again in 2024 and I still have no idea what went on in the movie. It’s just one big pile of ambiguity. I tell you: There is no way to tell for sure what happened. Or even come up with some reasonable theory of what happened, as you can with Kubrick’s 2001. The screenplay is by Tom Tryon, adapted from his novel. If his novel is anything like the movie, I don’t recommend it. Ebert gave it three stars, but his actual review makes fun of all the ambiguity. Maltin gives it three stars but a very short review. The movie was popular as I said above, and perhaps the critics were influenced by that. It’s about a couple of twins, one who may or may not be dead. Some dreadful things happen, connected to one of the twins. But this twin may be imaginary, as some Russian woman has taught the genuinely alive twin, Niles, a game where she’s like an Indian shaman and he’s like Carlos Castaneda. He throws his soul into a hawk and has fun flying around. The house has a weathervane shaped like a hawk. Could there be a connection? I guess it’s a good date movie for guys, as the girl you take with you will be all over you during the scary parts. But the film makes no sense whatsoever. At best it’s a senseless horror picaresque. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Bruce H This gothic and gripping horror film features plenty of weird mystery and suspense, and most especially a stunning plot twist halfway through that radically changes how the viewer perceives the awful events that the movie depicts. Outstanding acting performances include those by Broadway star Uta Hagen, Diana Muldaur, and, most notably, 10-year-old twins Chris and Martin Udvarnoky, who had never appeared in any show before, and never would again. Director Robert Mulligan, who also directed To Kill a Mockingbird and Summer of '42, richly deserves credit for getting the best out of its performers and making this production a largely unknown and underappreciated masterpiece. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/10/24 Full Review Alec B An odd viewing experience as the movie's tone doesn't always match the bleakness of the screenplay. It has a hell of an ending though. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/28/24 Full Review CodyZamboni I saw this movie a long time ago. This time I thought it was more disturbing than shocking. The creepiness is seeing the reactions of the kid's family, the looks of horror on the faces of his mom and grandmother. Those haunting images, and all the horrible things that happen, are very unsettling. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/23 Full Review Tom O The Other(1972) is an outstanding thriller based on Thomas Tryon's best selling book. The acting, direction, and cinematography are outstanding. The excellent musical score is from the brilliant Jerry Goldsmith. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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