Intensity: 🩸🩸🩸🩸 out of 🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Written/Directed by Paul Etheredge
A slow-burn, pregnancy/body horror circus of insanity! Looking at the reactions online, this is one of those love-it-or-hate-it movies. Stick with it, marinate in the crazy, and you’ll be rewarded with some great off-the-rails madness.
The Other: The Players
- Dylan McTee [Wrong Turn (2021)]: Daniel, hopeful new guardian of a traumatized foster child.
- Olivia Macklin [Radium Girls (2024)]: Robin, anxious new foster mom to young Kathelia.
- Avangeline Friedlander [Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024)]: Kathelia, a mute young girl with a traumatic past.
- Lily D. Moore [TV’s Never Have I Ever (2020–2022)]: Fiona, the quirky neighbor who befriends Kathelia.
- Shawnee Smith [Saw franchise (2004–2023)]: Lizzie, Fiona’s just-as-quirky mom.
The Other: The Breakdown
Synopsis
Daniel and Robin have been struggling to start a family. As an alternative, they foster Kathelia, a sweet young girl with a troubled past. Almost immediately, their world begins to tilt sideways. The deeper they settle into their new life together, the more it becomes clear that Kathelia’s traumatic baggage is a whole lot more than anyone was expecting.
Production
Despite what was likely a tight budget, The Other looks sharp. The cinematography and lighting are impressive, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and unnerving. Multiple locations, indoor and outdoor scenes makes the movie feel bigger, more expansive.
Practical effects are front and center, with some smartly staged sequences that sell the creeping weirdness without the need for heavy CGI. Etheredge squeezes maximum tension from every shadow and hallway.
Cast and Story
Avangeline Friedlander does a remarkable job carrying Kathelia’s role with almost no dialogue, and her quiet presence becomes one of the film’s most unsettling features. Her scenes with Lily D. Moore in particular showcase the unnerving chemistry between the two.
Dylan McTee and Olivia Macklin anchor the film with strong turns as foster parents whose lives are gradually unraveling, while Shawnee Smith adds veteran horror flair as the eccentric Lizzie. Some character decisions lean toward the illogical, but when the story spirals into unhinged madness, you’re too caught up to mind.
Summary
The Other is a unique, unpredictable entry into the slow-burn horror canon. If you like movies that slowly come to a boil, ignore all the ratings and reviews (except this one, of course) and go in with an open mind. With strong performances, inventive practical effects, and a story that veers into gloriously wild territory, Paul Etheredge’s film may divide audiences, but horror fans who like their scares with a side of surreal insanity will find plenty to love. This one’s too fun to miss.
Review by Robert Zilbauer.