The Other (1972)

Film Overview
The 1972 film, "The Other", directed by Robert Mulligan, is a psychological thriller based on the 1971 novel of the exact same name by Thomas Tryon. The film is set in 1935 rural Connecticut and follows the storyline of 2 twin brothers, Niles and Holland Perry, whose summer experiences take a sinister turn filled with mystery, evil, and murder. Chris and Martin Udvarnoky, real-life twin siblings, played the Perry twins in this film.

Starting Plot
The movie begins by providing the Perry twin brothers as close-knit, frequently playing video games and spending time together. Niles appears innocent and less problematic, while Holland appears mischievous. The boys' grandmother, Ada, teaches them a video game of psychic transfer called "the terrific game", which enables them to see and feel their surroundings through the other person's senses. The movie subtly means something sinister about the twins as peculiar accidents start occurring around their member of the family and neighbors.

Unfolding Mystery
The chain of mysterious occurrences starts with the death of the Perry twins' cousin Russell, who dies in the wine cellar of a possible mishap. Then their new-born sibling passes away after being overlooked in the sun, followed by the death of their mother, Alexandra's, unbearable lover-- who falls into a pitchfork in a stack of hay in the barn. All these events are associated with either Niles or Holland creating ominous undertones. As the film progresses, the audience is left questioning if these accidents are truly accidents, or is something more nefarious at play.

The Revelation
As the story deepens, a scary twist is revealed - Holland died in a mishap previously that summer season, and Niles has been playing both roles, had by his brother's spirit. The audience finds out that all the "accidents" were in fact murders, committed by Niles under his twisted sibling's impact. Niles' visions of Holland were merely the result of mental transfer set off by the game taught by his granny, Ada. The accidental deaths that befell to those around Niles were in reality results of his disrupted imagination under Holland's domination.

Ending Plot
In the climax, Ada discovers a terrible reality-- Niles, under Holland's malignant influence, was accountable for each death. In a fit of fury, Ada tries to face Niles, resulting in her having a cardiovascular disease. In a desperate effort to save her, Niles unknowingly ends her life by administering her 'medicine' that ends up being a bottle of toxic digitalis. The film ends highlighting the harmful capacity of the psychic game that Ada taught Niles, and Niles' failure to shake Holland's ominous influence.

Conclusion
"The Other" is a cooling psychological thriller that uses its whole run to expertly cultivate an environment of gothic scary and gradually expose the fact behind its central secret. The movie excels at providing thriller and surprises, with a plot that focuses on the disturbing bond between twins and the impacts of one's sinister impact on the other. The film, however, leaves the audience with a thought-provoking question: was it Holland's ghost affecting Niles or Niles's disrupted mind recreating his dead brother's character?

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