26 of 31 Horror Films I've Never Seen 2016: The Other (1972)

Is there anything quite as creepy as children?  The idea that underneath the innocence of youth could exist a malevolence beyond comprehension is quite honestly terrifying.  While it's certainly been explored a number of times over the years, it probably was at it's height in the 70s and into the 80s.  While mostly relegated to the realm of Grindhouse exploitation films there were a number of efforts in the more mainstream studio medium that made it through.  Films like The Omen and The Exorcist are perhaps the most renown, but Robert Mulligan's The Other deserves a special recognition for it's more psychological, albeit slightly spiritual, take on the subject.

Set in a small southern community in 1935, The Other follows twin brothers Niles (Chris Udvarnoky) and Holland Perry (Martin Udvarnoky), enjoying an idyllic summer playing and getting into mischief.  Something isn't quite right, however, and strange (often fatal) accidents seem to be happening to members of the community surrounding something that the twins grandmother, Ada (Uta Hagen), taught them called 'The Game.'  Niles, the naively innocent, is the 'good' child of the two, while Holland seems intent on a more sinister darkness.  But why are the boys hardly ever found together at the same time?

The Other is a slow paced film, but the pace is deliberately slow in order to show the fraying mental state of the characters.  With each 'accident' that befalls the secondary and tertiary characters, it becomes more and more clear that something is not right.  This is incredible effective at stirring tension and even causing dismay at the truly shocking conclusion to the story.  Mulligan doesn't quite pull his punches, but he is so careful to portray the nature of childhood and the secrets that children keep.  It is not until it is too late that action can be taken and it is very ambiguous as to the effects.

The drawback of the story is that it's a little bit too tame.  While Mulligan isn't afraid to tread some dark territories, he does so in a suggestive manner, hoping that the horror of the situation will come through.  While this is effective in a few places, on the whole it feels too restrained.  On the other hand, by practicing restraint throughout the first 2 thirds of the film, the final 30 minutes and chaotic climactic ending hit the audience in the gut like a true sucker punch.  An oldie, but a goodie, and a truly underrated classic that belongs in the canon of great psychological horror films.