Hm. Difficult to grade. On one hand, we have what some might call a creepy character study about a single mom in New York, with great performances all around and above average cinematography. On the other hand, we have a horror film that doesn't really work as a horror film and an ending that was overall pretty atrocious. It really mkaes you think, though, was it all real, or were the mom and daughter simply going mad? I would have said the latter, except for the very end of the movie, when she magically walks out of the elevator with braided hair.

I give it a C+.

B+


The movie is a rarity. It is what I consider to be a succeeded blend of horror and drama. Just as a horror movie, it is not a great one. There are really few scares and certainly no jumps here. It relies heavily on well-built atmosphere and there it mostly succeeds. However, the touch of drama Walter Salles added to this film is what makes it a great feature and a slight improvement over the original. As far as horror goes, the original was a little creepier than this film, but this remake is certainly a better drama. The cast is good, but the true stand-out is Jennifer Connelly who delivers one of the best female performances last year. I would go as far as saying that she deserved an Oscar momination for her role. Great display of depression and despair on her side. Many people didn't like the bleak ending, but I tought it fit the movie just well. As I said, it is not a great horror film, in that department improvement was possible. But it is a good mixture of drama and horror, something that no other horror film of last year could pull off.

It would rank as one of the 50 worst films I've ever seen in my life. No pacing, no direction, a ridiculous story and nothing more than trying to capitalize on the RING.

F

Finally someone agrees with me in regards to this movie (EDIT:just reread the posts and some other ppl agree as well, just not as nasty). I found it to be horrible as well.

It must be a Toronto thing.

At least there is a surprisingly fair share of people who enjoyed the film

Finally got around to seeing this one and....WOW. When you rent a horror movie you don't expect it to almost make you cry. The movies that have that kind of effect on me are few and far between. So I think I liked it. It was definitely unique...

Glad you liked it!

D

This film belongs in the drama section.

Not a great horror film, but it works in a creepy drama sort of way. Connelly is brilliant, as usual, but the movie lacks something important that made me feel detached. I dunno, it was just...weird.

C

Brilliant? Brilliant? How do you figure that? Brilliant is Frances McDormid in Fargo. Brilliant is Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich. Brilliant is Katherine Hepburn in On Golden Pond and brilliant is Cate Blanchett in Aviator. Connelly is fine, but far from brilliant. Maybe you need to see a few more films to get teh definition of brilliant.

I have seen every single performance on your list there (except for Hepburn's) and I still consider Connelly's performance brilliant and actually better than McDormand's whose performance didn't do anything to me.

Then I'm stunned. I just didn't see it Doc. Sorry.

Well, this is what opinuions are for

There is always The Exorcist...

I can't decide between this & The Devil's Rejects for my favorite horror film of last year. I'd probably give it to The Devil's Rejects since it is a horror film through and through while Dark Water is more of a drama, character study mixed with horror elements. That being said I really liked it, the characters were nicely fleshed out and three-dimensional, the performances were above average for the genre, and I loved the cinematography, gave it a really terrific creepy feel the entire time. Very effective. I'd give it a B+ overall as it does have some pacing problems, and I couldn't tell the two girls apart at times. And I'm in the "everything Jennifer Connelly touches turns to gold" camp so I can see where Lecter's coming from to an extent. At least she already has her Oscar.

I'm biased because I love Connelly , but maybe I did overspeak. She was very good for she had to work with was what I meant. All those performances are brilliant, though.

Lecter, see On Golden Pond right away. It's very good.

Now that we agree on!! Great flick!!!

A more depressing film is harder to find then this.

I'll assume its not meant to be depressing, more uneasy and unsettling but the constant barrage of communist styled block flats and shoddy drywall drags ones soul into a spiky pit of despair from which there seems to be no escape. I honestly think the real motive of this film was to highlight the poor state of affordable accommodation in the New York area and a kick up the arse to the government to do something about it...................................so I guess it IS meant to depress if only on the level of urban decay.

The moment I watched this film I felt an urge to hug the nearby solid brickwork and high finish of the house and be thankful my family worked hard to climb out of the lower class social net and the hellish harshness it contains.

Dark Water AKA - The perils of low rent housing.

Actually, I think it was meant to be somewhat depressing. At least I certainly found it to be that. As a horror movie per sé, it's okay, decent, not great. But it's a pretty good drama with some great great acting by Connelly. Just my opinion, though

Oh I'm not saying its a bad film, its pretty atmospheric in fact, but I needed to immediately down an entire bottle of Vodka afterwards to stave off the dark demons of the darkness!!

Have you seen the Korean original? It's a tad less depressing and a tad more scary. Though I like the remake more by a tiny bit, mostly thanks to Connelly.

Nope, need to pick it up since your last recommendation Braindead worked out well

Well, it's nothing outstanding...if you want a real Asian horror recommendation from me, go with A Tale of Two Sisters or One Missed Call (the original, obviously). Though I promise, both will screw with your mind.

D+

Turgid. Boring. Weak acting from all involved. Weak script. Just generally dull and definitely not scary despite the moderately tense atmosphere which is, dues given, produced.