Movies | at home or at the cinema

Laugh, Enjoy, Scare, Cry, Jump

Gothika

Thursday, 22 July 2004 ‡ 17:28

T' was a dark and stormy night...

Ok, a clichéd start to a horror film, but it does add to the effect plus the appearance of the asylum being isolated and remote. Very typical setting for horrible things to happen.

For me, this was just another horror, mystery, thriller type film, nothing special, well not obviously different from any other decently made horror film.

The film starts with Miranda Grey^?, a doctor of psychology, talking to one of her female patients, Chloe Sava^?, who believes she is being raped by satan. Chloe also shows no remorse for killing her step father, who also raped her. Chloe also struggles to convince Grey that she is telling her the truth; Since Grey is the doctor, she believes Chloe is suffering mentally. Grey is forced to question her self when she her self ends up with Chloe for committing a crime upon her husband, Dr. Douglas Grey^?.

Miranda enlists the help of Pete Graham^? at which point you ask yourself, 'there can only be one of two scenarios here'. You have already decided upon Miranda's verdict, but is Pete Graham involved.

The film is set in dark rooms and dim light for most of the time, with typical bright spots of light to add to the cold and erie asylum. Most scenes shot outdoors were also typically horror film environment, dark and raining. At least it was not full of the typical anticipated 'make you jump' scenes.

I felt the story was very weak and was not even an original concept. Apart from the 1 or 2 special effects, this was just another typical (not so) horror film. As the story unfolded slowly, I was expecting something from this film, a twist, another dimension, but it disappointed and it delivered less. It was beginning to bore me. Very weak story, usual interesting start, below average content and dismal ending. I wouldn't rush out to my local video store to rent this film and i definitely wouldn't buy it.

Labels: halle berry, robert downy jr