Have you ever felt like you were being watched in your own home? Or seen a shadow move in the corner of your eye? Is it real, supernatural or just your imagination?
These are questions a family faces in the new horror-mystery thriller The Other People. Playing before a packed house on a late Saturday, it provided the perfect setting for popcorn and an ice-cold soda to get creeped out at the 2025 Nashville Film Festival.
The story begins with William (Bryce Johnson), a recent widower, and his daughter, Abby (Valentina Lucido), who are visiting William’s new workplace. Abby encounters Rachel (Lyndie Greenwood), a dancer practicing in the gym. Fast forward, William and Rachel are now married and living in their new home. Abby begins talking about an imaginary friend named Eric, whom she insists isn’t imaginary. But one night, she sees a “scary man” climbing out of her closet, so she ends up sleeping with William and Rachel for a while.
This, along with talk of imaginary people, increases stress on the family. They start falling apart at the seams, while Rachel begins noticing strange things, like food going missing. From there, she starts searching for the truth, while William remains in denial about what is really happening.
Are these entities… or something more sinister?
I don’t want to reveal too much because the real thrill of this film is experiencing it without knowing. But audiences are in for a real treat, because I haven’t seen a story told like this before.
Chad McClarnon’s direction is insightful and ambitious. Several scenes reminded me of Steven Soderbergh’s Presence, especially the way the camera gracefully drifts through the house at certain moments. The use of camera angles and negative space created shadows that moved subtly in the background, similar to Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House. Scenes like those send chills up my spine, and I absolutely love it — especially when watching in a theater full of people gasping at the sight.
The film maintains a steady pace throughout. When it delves into violence, it truly goes all out — I had no idea the lengths these entities would go to scare the family away from their house. I appreciate movies that aren’t afraid to take risks, and this one definitely pushed the envelope in terms of shock value.
I also loved the shots of the front of the house, with the soft yellow lights glowing in the windows — viewing it felt like a Halloween decoration I’d display on my mantel. Speaking of colors, there are many light blues and yellows in this film, which aligns well with the title card that I really appreciate. The palette sets a somber tone that emphasizes the emotional aspect of the family.
Every performance in the film is outstanding, but I want to especially highlight Lyndie Greenwood as Rachel, the newly introduced stepmother to Abby. Greenwood delivers a compelling performance, showing a range of emotions through her expressive gestures and piercing gaze. Her intensity and subtle expressions effectively portray Rachel as a strong, independent woman who confidently takes charge of her circumstances, adding depth to the story. I love a strong female lead, and she provides one of my favorite performances so far this year.
The central feature I loved the most is the scares. These shadows that haunt the home are tangible, and their weight causes the creaks in the floorboards. Are these ghosts or something else? That’s what you have to find out for yourself throughout the film.
Basically, this movie redefines the urban legend “Humans Can Lick Too,” which is about someone comforted by their dog licking their hand when they reach under the bed.
I rate The Other People four and a half out of five stars, praising it as a compelling and well-executed debut film. It’s a standout debut from the McClarnon brothers, who co-wrote the screenplay and bring a fresh, engaging perspective to the screen, showcasing their undeniable talent and promising future in filmmaking.
So, next time you hear a creak in the floorboards, catch a shadow out of the corner of your eye or wonder if that closet door just moved on its own… maybe it’s nothing. Or maybe, just maybe, The Other People are closer than you think.