Review of Gothika (2003) by Caleb M — 08 Feb 2010

This flick actually isn't bad. The ending lacks decent effects and a satisfying finale, but the rest of the film is pretty slick. Kassovitz brings some really great style (perhaps some of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's influence here and there) to this gothic, pulpy story and Halle Berry is an impossibly hot woman in peril.

The occasional scenes with Downey Jr. and Cruz are welcome breaks from the rather bland role Berry gets shackled with. Still, she does what she can with it, and I guess she isn't half bad at shaking around and being frightened a lot.

While the plot isn't much, and the performances don't really give their actors much to do, Gothika has so much style and atmosphere that you can really just lose yourself in the look and feel of it.

The set-pieces, colors, sounds and jumps really deliver.