- Actors: Halle Berry, Penélope Cruz, Robert Downey Jr., Charles S. Dutton, John Carroll Lynch
- Directors: Mathieu Kassovitz
- Writers: Sebastian Gutierrez
- Producers: Adam Kuhn, Don Carmody, Gary Ungar, Jefferson Richard, Joel Silver
- Language English
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- VHS Release Date: 9 Aug 2004
- Run Time: 98 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0002849IY
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 19,412 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The title of Gothika prepares you for a spooky, atmospheric thriller with an emphasis on supernatural mystery. The best way to appreciate the movie itself is to understand that it's a waking nightmare that needn't make sense in the realm of sanity. Making a flashy Hollywood debut after his superior 2000 thriller The Crimson Rivers, French actor-director Mathieu Kassovitz pours on the dark and stormy atmosphere, trapping a competent psychologist (Halle Berry) in the prison ward where she treated inmates (including Penelope Cruz) until she was committed for killing her husband (Charles S. Dutton), who was also her boss. Did a car crash cause her to suffer ghostly delusions, or is a young girl--dead for four years--sending clues from beyond the grave? Berry has to prove her innocence while Kassovitz keeps everything--including the viewer and costar Robert Downey Jr. (as Berry's colleague)--in the dark about just where the nonsensical plot is leading. There's a better movie in here somewhere, among the catwalks and crannies of the impressive prison-castle setting, and Berry gives 100% in a performance that's consistent with the movie's overwrought tone. Attentive viewers will identify the killer early on, and the ending is anticlimactic, but Gothika serves up a few good shocks for ghost-story connoisseurs. --Jeff Shannon
Video Description
A criminal psychologist awakens to find herself a patient in her own institution with no memory of the murder she’s apparently committed. As she struggles to reclaim her sanity, she finds herself the pawn of a vengeful spirit.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As implied by its' name this is a dark, dark movie, but the impact comes from it being a psychodrama played out in grim claustrophobic sets in a mental institution bathed in a subtle foreboding blue grey light.
The real fascination of the plot is that Miranda Grey (Halle Berry) an outstanding psychiatrist working in a penal institute for the criminally insane is suddenly and for reasons she cannot understand finds herself incarcerated in the same institute, with inmates she has previously been responsible for.
Everything is seen from Miranda Grey's point of view and Halle Berry's fine acting draws you right into her character, her horror as she discovers first hand the problems her patients inmates from the their perspective.
Outstanding production values, fine direction and acting make this an intriguing view.
The real fascination of the plot is that Miranda Grey (Halle Berry) an outstanding psychiatrist working in a penal institute for the criminally insane is suddenly and for reasons she cannot understand finds herself incarcerated in the same institute, with inmates she has previously been responsible for.
Everything is seen from Miranda Grey's point of view and Halle Berry's fine acting draws you right into her character, her horror as she discovers first hand the problems her patients inmates from the their perspective.
Outstanding production values, fine direction and acting make this an intriguing view.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There's a feeling among some people that for a horror to be effective there's got to be lots of shocks and plenty of blood and guts. The converse of this is the psychological thriller which can be just as unsettling and thought-provoking.
This is one of those. There's a supernatural edge to the psychological turmoil, and also at the centre is some real deceptions and personal tragedy due to relationships. In this, it is effective in being disturbing and chilling.
I think appreciation of this is whether you like this vein of cinema, because it is a well-paced plot with a good level of viewer deception and plot levels. Acting is great, and it's creatively told and shot. It also stands up to a further viewing.
This is one of those. There's a supernatural edge to the psychological turmoil, and also at the centre is some real deceptions and personal tragedy due to relationships. In this, it is effective in being disturbing and chilling.
I think appreciation of this is whether you like this vein of cinema, because it is a well-paced plot with a good level of viewer deception and plot levels. Acting is great, and it's creatively told and shot. It also stands up to a further viewing.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Gothika is a dark, terrifying film that is set mainly in the confines of a mental institute, where the lead character, a top psychiatrist, battles to save her sanity and find out the truth about a mysterious girl that seems to be haunting her. Throughout the film, we are made to wonder if she is simply losing her mind or if the mysterious girl is actually trying to send her messages from beyond her grave.
Being set in a secure mental institute, some of the scenes brought about a sense of claustrophobia, which I think really upped the scare factor, especially when Miranda was being tormented by brief, flashing images of the girl. It also makes you wonder if there's really any way out for her, whether she will succomb to madness or the clutches of the girl.
The music, the suspense, the camera angles, the actors and the disjointed time-frames made this film one of the scariest films I've ever seen. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.
Being set in a secure mental institute, some of the scenes brought about a sense of claustrophobia, which I think really upped the scare factor, especially when Miranda was being tormented by brief, flashing images of the girl. It also makes you wonder if there's really any way out for her, whether she will succomb to madness or the clutches of the girl.
The music, the suspense, the camera angles, the actors and the disjointed time-frames made this film one of the scariest films I've ever seen. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good film.
I bought this as a cheap "I'll give it a go" sort of film. I have to say...it was money well spent. I really enjoyed the film and think the acting in it from everyone was very... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Becnev90
A must for your DVD collection!
I wasn't sure what to expect when I sat down to watch this film, but Halle Berry plays the lead so convincingly (a totally different role from what I have seen her play... Read more
Published 6 months ago by London Girl
Jyotika Varsani
is she the one and only
say my name say my name
your acting kinda crazy
not calling me baby
better say my name
say my name say my name
your acting kinda crazy
not calling me baby
better say my name
Published 14 months ago by jyotika varsani
good horror
watch this if you want to watch a good creepy ghost story of a woman incarcerated in the place she used to work in, but nobody has mentioned the amazing horrific ending, the reason... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Marie Brice
Good movie, good gift.
I saw this movie a while back and if I recall it was pretty good despite having a bit of a weak storyline. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Magnolia
Very Badly flawed
.......the major problem with the film is that the Halle Berry character really did kill her husband so how come she was released???? Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by P. R. Scraggs
Gothika
I thought this film was tremendous. Halle Berry's performance was outstanding. She played her role so well, I doubt it could not be bettered by any other actress. Read more
Published on 6 Sep 2008 by Oldcodger
I am not a Halle Berry Fan
I am not a Halle Berry Fan in fact I was not even going to watch it as I had bought the triple Identity / Gothika / House Of Nine ASIN: B000AYQJ6U but thought - why not . Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2008 by brian from london
A Thriller
Miss Halle plays a prison psychiatrist called Miranda. She is happily married. Charles S. Dutton plays her husband and he is the warden of the prison that she works in. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2007 by M. A. Ramos
A good thriller
I have to say, i was impressed with the acting in this film. The storyline
was weak in places but it was still quite an enjoyable experience.
was weak in places but it was still quite an enjoyable experience.
Published on 19 May 2007 by The Beast
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