Boom. Another creepy kid horror movie. Except—The Other's trailer doesn't just rely on jump scares and eerie whispers. It weaponizes something far more unsettling: the fear of family itself.
Quiver Distribution just dropped the trailer for Paul Etheredge's The Other, and on the surface, it's a familiar formula—mute orphan, tragic past, supernatural hijinks. But look closer. The real horror here isn't the ghost (though, sure, “it's already here”). It's the gut-wrenching subtext: What if the child you save destroys you?
The Trailer's Hidden Tension: Trust vs. Terror
The setup is brutal in its simplicity:
- A couple, desperate for a child, adopts Kathelia (Avangeline Friedlander), a mute girl with a “dark past.”
- Strange occurrences escalate—shadowy figures, flickering lights, Kathelia's unsettling stare.
- The kicker? The parents' love curdles into dread as they realize they invited the evil in.
This isn't just The Conjuring with a foster-care twist. Etheredge (of Hellbent fame) taps into a primal fear: the stranger in your home isn't a stranger—she's your daughter. The trailer's most chilling moment? Not a jump scare, but Kathelia's quiet smile as chaos unfolds around her.
Why This Feels Different (And Why It Might Not Be)
Let's be real—haunted kid stories are a dime a dozen (The Orphanage, The Babadook, Mama). But The Other's trailer hints at a crueler twist: the parents' love might be the trigger.
Compare it to The Ring (2002), where the horror was external—a cursed tape. Here, the horror is chosen. The couple's yearning for family becomes their downfall. It's Hereditary meets Orphan, with a dash of Final Destination (courtesy of producer Jeffrey Reddick).
The Big Question: Will It Deliver?
Trailers lie. Remember Slender Man's promising teaser? Yeah. But Etheredge's Hellbent was a sleazy, fun romp—so if The Other balances scares with emotional gut-punches, it could stand out.
The trailer sells dread, not just demons. If the film digs into its themes—grief, trust, the horror of unconditional love—it might be more than just VOD fodder.
Or it'll be another forgettable spook show. Guess we'll find out June 13th.
