Review of Lady in the Water (2006) by Brandon S — 22 Sep 2015

A fascinating fairy tale that suffered from a terrible marketing strategy that treated it like any other of M. Night Shyamalan's darker thrillers. Make no mistake, this is not a thriller by any means. This is a children's story told in an adult way.

This is a film that it's easy to pick on, because it's a film that it's very easy to misunderstand. Shyamalan is a filmmaker that never works to just collect a paycheck. Shyamalan's films always have something to say, and the beauty of Shyamalan's direction is the way he communicates that purpose to the audience with love and passion for both his audience and for his work. That's what I see here. Shyamalan is a good director. Simple as that.

This movie is a tragic victim of classic studio mismarketing of a film that they don't understand.

The fact is, this is a beautifully shot, solidly directed, well paced fantasy that challenges typical conventions of the genre. Is it perfect? Not by any stretch of the imagination. Is it even one of Shyamalan's best? Not in my opinion. But is it the worst movie ever as so many others seem to think? No way! This is a good movie, plain and simple.