by: ahf
Posted on 11.10.09 in All Horror Films
Release Date: 2003

Dr. Miranda Grey (Halle Berry) appears content with her job at the local mental institution helping a seemingly delusional girl, Chloe (Penelope Cruz), who thinks Satan visits her in her cell nightly. Miranda has a friend at work that shares quips and sandwiches with her on occasion, Dr. Peter Graham (Robert Downey Jr.). And to put the icing on the cake Dr. Grey gets to work along side her husband Dr. Douglas Grey (Charles S. Dutton). It’s the perfect job, the perfect hubby, and a great friend all rolled up in one cozy looney bin…but, Chloe’s case is troubling Miranda. After discussing the case with the long time colleague and head of the institution Dr. Phil Parsons (Bernard Hill), Miranda realizes she may need to step back and not take the case so personally…and that’s when the so called “delusional” shit hits the fan.

On Miranda’s rainy drive home she finds a beaten girl in the middle of road who she of coarse tries to help, but to Dr. Grey’s dismay when she touches the girl she is engulfed in a sort of Satanic Soul Fire. Miranda wakes to find she’s in the very same institution she left the night before, but now she’s a patient. Turns out Miranda is being charged with the murder of her wonderful husband. Ooops. She has no recollection of hacking her husband to pieces with an axe or writing in his blood on the walls “NOT ALONE.”

Gothika is brought to us by Dark Castle. The production company that took over the rights to the Castle films from the 50’s, such as “House on Haunted Hill” and “13 Ghosts.” Both were remade and pretty well I might add. Gothika is the first completely original script from Dark Castle. So, I had very high hopes. It’s a fun story that starts out as more of a creepy mystery than a standard horror tale. Lot’s of twists and turns, and ghost scares. With a gigantic turning point in the film when we find out that Dr. Grey is possessed by a girl her husband helped murder.

For the most, Gothika, is at least intriguing…but, almost seems more like a slowish mystery thriller that your parents would love on par with “Kiss the Girls” or “Along Came a Spider.” It’s not meant to sound like a harsh judgment; it’s just not an edgy film. Dark Castle is a great company and I do love the chances it takes on ideas, Gothika may not be the film for you, so try another flavor from the same company…maybe “The Reaping” or even “Ghost Ship”, both mentioned films are from the same crew and have a bit more in the horror department.

* Acting – 5
* Blood – 3
* Violence – 3
* Partying – 5
* Language – 3
* Humor – 1
* Predictability – 1
* Girls – 4
* Gore – 3
* Sexuality – 3
* Torture – 3
* Overall – 3

• ★★★★★

  Acting:

• ★★★★★

  Blood:

• ★★★★★

  Violence:

• ★★★★★

  Partying:

• ★★★★★

  Language:

• ★★★★★

  Humor:

• ★★★★★

  Predictable:

• ★★★★★

  Girls:

• ★★★★★

  Gore:

• ★★★★★

  Sexuality:

• ★★★★★

  Torture:

• ★★★★★

  Overall: