At the time of its release, the film was overshadowed by another film of similar characteristics, The Sixth Sense (1999). Nevertheless, Alejandro Amenábar managed to put distance from M. Night Shyamalan’s film with a commercial quality product, as proves its many nominations and wins for some of the most prestigious awards, such as Goya, Golden Globes and BAFTA, and almost $220 million in worldwide box office. Much of this success depends on the commendable work of its director and its leading actress.

Amenábar manages to keep the audience in suspense throughout the whole film footage, what is enough to make it the highest grossing Spanish film. And the truth is that Amenábar did not have it easy. On the one hand, the shadow of the Hollywood's big boss Tom Cruise, in production, and on the other, the weight of a super star like Nicole Kidman carrying the weight of the film. However, the director solved his first American adventure with solvency and flashes of brilliance. The director (and Cruise) managed to put the film on the top of the U.S. box office and took the best of its protagonist. In Kidman, Amenábar found the mix between Grace Kelly and Vivien Leigh he was searching for his classic horror film. In fact, the actress is The Others itself and on her work, one of the greatest of her carrer, depends the fascination, terror and all the feelings that the film causes on the audience.

The Others is not just a ghost story. With constant Hitckcockianas references, the film also deals with deeper issues, including a clear attack to religion, the torment of loneliness, the distrust of the unknown, or a love/hate relationship of a mother with her children. All these issues are interspersed in a movie that entertains, captivates, creates tension and makes the audience enjoy, who will not be disappointed with a commercial and intelligent film, two concepts that rarely go together.