Olga Kurylenko Carries Shudder’s Other Alone — Why You Can’t Look Away

Director David Moreau is back with another high-concept swing. After last year’s MadS, he leans even harder into a stylistic gamble: build an entire movie around Olga Kurylenko’s face and barely show anyone else’s. Risky? Yeah. But it does create a mood. I talked with Kurylenko about the approach, why the story hit close to home, and a scene she shot that didn’t make the final cut.

What 'Other' is actually about

Olga plays Alice, who returns to her childhood home after her mother dies. The house looks familiar, but something’s off: it’s wired with surveillance that tracks Alice’s every move. There’s also a not-so-friendly presence lurking around, pushing her toward a nasty revelation she’s not ready for. If you’re expecting a full-on creature romp, temper that. The movie works better when it leans into psychological dread.

The Moreau gimmick (and why it kind of works)

Moreau keeps the camera glued to Kurylenko, practically refusing to show other faces for most of the runtime. It’s a bold, rare choice that puts all the pressure on one performer. The result isn’t flawless, but it definitely has moments where the tension and intimacy snap into place.

Kurylenko on playing a model: been there, done that

The character has a modeling background, which Kurylenko knows firsthand from starting in that world when she was young. She connected to the character’s headspace, while making it clear her own family experience was much healthier than the one Alice is grappling with. That real-life contrast gives the performance some extra bite without turning it into a trauma dump.

The cool bit you won’t see

Kurylenko also brought up a particularly interesting moment that was shot but ultimately cut. I won’t spoil what it was in case it pops up in extras later, but I wish it had stayed in. It sounds like the kind of beat that would have deepened the character and sharpened the film’s odd, voyeuristic vibe.

• Director: David Moreau (following last year’s MadS)
• Star: Olga Kurylenko, whose face is basically the only one you see
• Premise: Daughter returns home after her mother’s death; the house is a surveillance trap; a presence closes in
• Style: More psychological thriller than creature feature, with a strong one-woman POV
• Extra tidbit: A notable scene Kurylenko liked didn’t make the final cut
• Where to watch: 'Other' is now streaming on Shudder

Bottom line

Even if you don’t fall in love with every swing, the singular focus on Kurylenko gives 'Other' a strange, haunted intimacy you don’t see often. It’s a neat experiment that occasionally clicks in a big way.