Author: Mathieu Kassovitz

Format: NTSC

Details: Amazon.ca After earning his ticket to direct in the United States thanks to his Crimson Rivers, French director Mathieu Kassovitz exercises his visa rights with Gothika, a fantasy thriller with spectacular effects, far removed from the intelligence of the subject matter brilliantly directed in La Haine or the charming freshness of Métisse. Dr. Miranda Grey is a psychiatrist at the Woodward women's penitentiary. Only one of her patients, Chloe, gives her trouble. But her problems are far from over, as Grey herself will be accused of murder and committed to the institution shortly thereafter. Relying on the services of two of Hollywood's most attractive actresses, Penelope Cruz (quite convincing) and Halle Berry (whose acting is sometimes mechanical), filmed in cold and unsettling shades of gray and blue, Gothika is a thriller with undeniable effectiveness. Despite the excess of bombastic effects, the somewhat over-the-top direction, and the intrusive music, the film succeeds in causing many a jump scare. Yet, Mathieu Kassovitz's American foray leaves the unpleasant impression of having witnessed nothing more than the methodical application of a scare recipe, with its rather conventional screenplay never succeeding in giving the film the substance that would likely have made it terrifying. – Helen Faradji.

UPC: 085393328115

EAN: 0085393328115

Languages: French

Binding: DVD

Item Condition: UsedVeryGood