Gothika: a Confused Reviewer Responds
I had high hopes for this film and wanted to see it for years. I love psychological thrillers and, with the impeccable cast, I figured it would be a can't miss thrill ride of chills and thrills.
But, did it live up to my own self imposed hype? Read on to find out...
First the Good:
Great cast. The film stars Halle Berry, Penelope Cruz and Robert Downey Jr. The film is well acted. The direction of Mathieu Kassovitz, who also masterfully told the tragic story in Munich does enough to keep the viewer intersted in the film. Good selection of camera shots, decent editing.
Now the Bad:
A very convoluted plot. The film starts out as a psychological thriller and turns into your basic catch me if you can flick. The basic premise is intersting but way over done (think Shutter Island a half a decade before Shutter Island and with horrible screenwriting. How Sebastian Guttierez of Snakes on a Plane fame continues to get work is beyond me.) and the film relies too much on special effects and cheap scare tactics. The dialogue is trite, cliche, unrealistic, ineffectual, yadda yadda yadda. Even the brilliant talents of Halle Berry and RDJ couldn't keep this dialogue from falling flat on it's face.
The Gist
Like most critics, professional and amateur alike, the film simply isn't very good. That's not to say, however, that it's not entertaining. if you're looking for a film that will entertain you and maybe scare you a little (and I mean a little) then it's worth watching. The film suffers from poor screen writing, but it's very watchable behind Kassovitz's direction and the star power of Berry, RDJ and Cruz. The scares are cheap and the film tries too hard to get in your head. The special affects are overdone but at times effective.
Still, if a movies' purpose is to entertain, then the movie succeeds. I was entertained and don't regret taking an hour and a half out of my life to watch this film. Unlike other Pysho thrillers, including Shutter Island, this film is instantly forgettable and does not warrant repeat viewings, though i do reccommend seeing it if psych thriller/ghost stories are your thing. Prepare to be confused and a little aggravated, but also prepare to enjoy yourself.
5.5 stars/10
