Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, Tim Roth

Dahlia Williams is starting a new life; newly separated with a new job and a new apartment, she's determined to put her relationship with her estranged husband behind her and devote herself to raising...( read more  read more... ) her daughter, Ceci. But when the strained separation disintegrates into a bitter custody battle, her situation takes a turn for the worse. Her new apartment -- dilapidated, cramped, and worn--seems to take on a life of its own. Mysterious noises, persistent leaks of dark water, and strange happenings cause her imagination to run wild, sending her on a puzzling and mystifying pursuit to find out who is behind the endless mind games. As Dahlia frantically searches for the links between the riddles, the dark water seems to close around her. But one thing trumps all others in Dahlia's world: no matter what it is that's out there, she'll stop at nothing to find it.

Flixster Users

39% liked it

138,169 ratings

Critics

46% liked it

144 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Walter Salles

Release Date: July 8, 2005

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DVD Release Date: December 26, 2005

Stats: 4,296 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (4,296)


  • August 21, 2009
    Even the awesome cast (Reilly, Roth, Postelwaite, Connelly, Scott) can't save this thing. A bit confusing and not even interesting enough to keep my attention. Not the worst movie I've ever seen, but definitely not onw of the best.
  • July 13, 2009
    I guess I've put off watching this for so long because of all the pointless remakes that are churned out. I only watch them if I am in a hateful mood, something to direct my anger at. It's a stress reliever. Dark Water is very different though. Although it follows the same path S...( read more)alles has done an extraordinary thing in his translation. He has removed all the horror and simply gone with a drama. This is Kramer vs. Kramer with a ghost girl as a subplot. He merges the strands well, having the haunting gradually destroy Connelly's chances of custody of her daughter. It makes for excellent viewing even if it will let down those expecting a horror. Nakata went for a bit of emotion and a lot of horror. Salles has beefed up a lot of supporting roles and managed to explore them in the most simple of ways. He certainly understands the idea of telling a story through pictures. Roth is brilliant and is handed such little nuggets as working from his car and lying about being married before sitting down in an empty cinema. If there was a version with the emotion of this and the horror of the original, it would be a perfect film. Both current versions are excellent films that show how a different interpretation doesn't need to result in a carbon copy remake.
  • May 16, 2009
    ...proving once again that Hollywood can take a really good Japanese movie and screw it all up.
  • August 31, 2008
    This movie was kinda stupid...I don't know why I had such high expectations for it in the first place, but it was just really predictable.
  • August 12, 2008
    For the longest time this is more a psychological thriller than a horror movie. The first ten minutes were full of familiar faces I didn't even know were in this, I love it when that happens and ignorant me beats well-informed me sometimes. Anyway, the cast is really good, the li...( read more)ttle girl playing Ceci particularly adorable. The movie sets up a really good atmosphere with the horribly plain building and constant rain. It's tense and nerve wracking at times, but not really scary. The solution is somewhat easy to figure out, the showdown after that pretty creepy at least. Worth a look for fans of subtle horror, but surely no must see.
  • November 19, 2009
    DARK WATER (2005)
    dir. Walter Salles
    cast. Jennifer Connelly, Tim Roth, John C. Reilly

    Dark Water is another remake of a Hideo Nakata film based on a Koji Suzuki novel. Its not as good as The Ring but its way better than The Ring Two.

    The plot is s

    ...( read more)imple, its about a single mom moving in a new building with her daughter. Weird things happen with the apartment upstairs like water drifting from the ceiling. What is interesting here isnt the fright factor but mostly the psychological connection between the main character - played by Jennifer Connelly - and the water appearances, working as a good metaphor to show how she is slowly losing it.

    The scary parts arent too laughable so its a good thing, and the atmosphere created is somehow harrowing but the drama is deeper and the characters are well-developed. Tim Roth seems like he is in a whole different movie though.

    Walter Salles - The Motrocycle Diaries - does an interesting job here but the studio took over his work so its hard to tell what his actual vision was. Better than most scary movies if you are willing to intellectualize what you see, but not that entertaining.

  • November 15, 2009
    I hate Hollywood's remakes!
  • November 12, 2009
    Looks like a typical Asian horror. Might try it though!
  • November 2, 2009
    a neat thriller and it has jennifer connelly which always is good
  • October 31, 2009
    !Comercial or Stupid! :|

Critic Reviews


August 2, 2005
Kurt Loder, MTV

[E]xecuted just about as well as it possibly could be ... 'Dark Water' sinks under the weight of its rampant and ... laughable predictability. full review

July 8, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Like so many recent thrillers of this ilk, many of them in some way exploiting the 'innocence' of childhood -- the dumb and unpleasant Hide and Seek springs to mind -- Dark Water falls apart in the wi... full review

July 8, 2005
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Dark Water has more substance and a more interesting look than many horror films, but the familiar elements of the story disappoint. full review

July 8, 2005
David Edelstein, Slate

This is an eerie, relentlessly grim, invasive little movie -- a tone poem of despair that seeps into you like the damp. full review

July 8, 2005
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A mostly faithful adaptation of a scary little story: A mother and her young daughter, needing to save money as the mother negotiates an unhappy divorce, move into a depressing, dark apartment. full review

July 8, 2005
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

[Salles] has managed to create a movie that's pretty bleak for a Hollywood -- especially Disney -- thriller. full review

July 7, 2005
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com

Would have been... more entertaining as an absurdist comedy about the troubles one woman will go through in order to not live in Queens, the Bronx or (God forbid) Jersey. full review

July 7, 2005
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Dark Water is a lesson in how to transform atmospheric J-horror into soggy B filmmaking. full review

July 7, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Dark Water achieves some, but not all, of what we might hope for. full review

June 16, 2005
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

A classy ghost story is just the ticket in a summer of crass jolts. full review

View more Dark Water reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • karthu1993
    June 2, 2008
    Nice. not that scary bit it is also very sad.
  • nakira11
    August 26, 2007
    it wasnt bad.it reminded me of the grudge and the ring
  • rachalbratz20
    June 13, 2007
    this movie is sad and scary
  • rachalbratz20
    June 13, 2007
    dark water is really scary but sad also i remember when i watched it

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Dark Water Trivia


  • which actress has been in all of the following movies: The Labyrinth, Dark water, Requiem for a Dream, and A Beautiful Mind?  Answer »
  • What missing word connects the following films? ____ Water Dancer In The ____ ____ City ____ Crystal ????  Answer »
  • In what movie, did they sing the song "Incie wincie spider"?  Answer »
  • Which three movies are based on previous Japanese productions?  Answer »

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