Bernard Hill, Charles S. Dutton, Halle Berry

Ghost story in which a repressed female psychiatrist wakes up as a patient in the very asylum where she worked with no memory of why she is there and what she has done.

Flixster Users

56% liked it

375,015 ratings

Critics

15% liked it

159 critics

R, 98 min.

Directed by: Mathieu Kassovitz

Release Date: November 21, 2003

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DVD Release Date: March 23, 2004

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Stats: 11,749 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (11,749)


  • March 1, 2009
    A film that isn?t highly rated by most, but remains to be one of my favourites and most re-watched films that I own.

    Gothika has the dark creepy atmosphere, which is maintained throughout the film and a storyline which urges you to feel the frustration of the main characters, ...( read more)played by Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz.

    Admittedly it has it?s clichéd moments and it?s not without predictability, but it?s certainly worth watching (in my opinion) if you enjoy supernatural Thrillers.

    'Behind Blue Eyes' became one of my favourite songs after watching this film.
  • August 23, 2008
    So freaky! I loved this movie. Halle Berry was amazing!
  • August 5, 2008
    ''I am a rational person. I believe in science. I don't believe in the paranormal, and I don't believe in ghosts. But if you are the ghost of Rachel Parsons, then you would let me out of this cell.''

    Ghost story in which a repressed female psychiatrist wakes up as a pati...( read more)ent in the very asylum where she worked with no memory of why she is there and what she has done.

    Halle Berry: Miranda Grey

    Gothika follows the late 90s/early 00s trend of desaturated films that have a predominant colour: blue in this case. It creates an atmosphere that works very well for a horror/suspense film of this type, and that is heightened by the Gothic sets and production design, the one shot we get of the exterior of the psychiatric place makes it look like an old castle. Although the overall structure is more along the lines of a pedestrian thriller, the film adeptly weaves horror and unusual stylistic elements throughout its length, creating a whole greater than the sum of its parts. The performances are good, and the script and direction will keep you guessing most of the time.

    The film transitions from doctor to patient to a frantic individual trying to make sense of all the madness. Accused of killing her husband, Miranda suffers in asylum. Strange visions and paranormal visitations shake her reality even further and lead her on a journey to discover what is happening to her and why. Why did she kill her husband?

    Co-starring in the film is Robert Downey Jr. who also plays a psychiatrist (Pete). His attempts to help Miranda seem fruitless as she suffers through continually bizarre episodes and delusional thoughts. Miranda doesn't trust Pete or anyone else because, "you can't trust someone who thinks you're crazy." But is she?
    Penelope Cruz also stars but like Robert she is sidelined to the background Berry steals most of the show.

    Gothika is a psychological thriller bordering on a kind of Horror film reminiscent of the Silent Hill series. Underrated in my opinion and a bloody good effort. Worth watching the credits all the way through too for the Soulful Soundtrack and Limp Bizkit Behind Blue Eyes.
  • May 19, 2008
    downey jr is the only reason to see this
  • March 2, 2008
    Great director...mediocre script
  • November 17, 2009
    Una de las pocas de fantasmas que dan escalofríos.
  • November 10, 2009
    How did Halle Barry get so big? Oh nevermind. But wait, oh nevermind.
  • November 2, 2009
    not halle berry's best
  • November 1, 2009
    Absolutely fantastic!!!
  • November 1, 2009
    Halle Berry was great in this. But, the plot got a bit silly to a cetain point. i think we've seen this type of movie a thousand times. But it is scary. There are just so many terrifying scenes here that scared me. The acting was ok and the pacing was actually kinda slow. It's a ...( read more)decent horror but we've seen this a lot of times.

Critic Reviews


May 3, 2005
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness

Succeeds in making every plot twist more unbelievable and irrational than the last. full review

November 22, 2003
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

More of a women's-prison movie than a supernatural thriller, and not a very good one at that. full review

November 21, 2003
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A movie that invariably chooses style over substance and logic. full review

November 21, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

In trash as in art there is no accounting for taste, and reader, I cherished this movie in all of its lurid glory. full review

November 20, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

It is a thoroughly synthetic confection, compounded of clichés drawn from a half-dozen genres and subgenres that for a while might almost persuade its audience, as it apparently convinced its makers, ... full review

November 20, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

If you're smart, alone is just where you'll leave Gothika. full review

View more Gothika reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • otuxi
    January 1, 2009
    After watching this film i realised i absolutely hate horrors.
  • staheth
    October 30, 2006
    itz tottally weird i would still watch it though the most weird thing about it is I cant understand it itz 2 weird 4 me

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Gothika Trivia


  • What words are cut into Halle Berry's arm in the film Gothika?  Answer »
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