A devout woman (Nicole Kidman) with two sunlight-sensitive children believes ghosts inhabit her darkened island mansion. Then the arrival of hired servants accidentally begins to break religious rules there with unexpected consequences.
Bumpy at first, with a few too many clichés and an awful lot of doors opening and closing. But by its final image -- a beautifully fading portrait through a window -- I was swept in.
It's atmospheric, stylish, and spooky. The plot is well thought-out and its secrets and mysteries are unveiled slowly. Unfortunately, it is also cold, distancing, and moves at a glacial pace.
