Gothika

Gothika isn't boring, it's just relentlessly stupid in almost every way. The script in particular is enormously dull. From about a third of the way through, everything is clear and we watch the slow, poorly acted progression of the protagonist towards the "shocking" twist. (10.08.2004)

Gothika is an average movie that won’t offend anyone, but will rather blend in with the crowd over time. The more reserved first half is saved by the thrilling second half, only for the whole thing to ultimately be sunk by the ridiculous climax. A class below The Eye and The Ring. (26.01.2004)

If the movie "Gothika" didn't have such logical errors and if Halle Berry wasn't so annoying at times, it would be an extremely good horror, because there are scenes that are truly terrifying. Unfortunately, some of them are completely pointless, without any real explanation and not firmly integrated into the plot. I wonder if John Carroll Lynch's wife slept in the same room with her husband after watching the movie. Or in the same house. (05.02.2015)

Kassovitz is certainly a talented filmmaker and he handled Gothika with great clarity and grace, but as is customary in ghost films, the precisely built atmosphere of most of the plot is completely walled off by a routine and far-fetched finale. As long as the unknown is conducted to the protagonist in terrifying visions, hints and excellently filmed "creeps", the atmosphere of Gothika is dense, electrifying and dark. As long as the interesting-looking plot, in which the subjective narrative of psychologist Miranda and the voice of an objective narrator are vaguely permeated, holds mysterious notes, everything is in perfect order. The viewer doubts where the truth is and teeters on the edge of doubt as to whether she is in fact crazy. Unfortunately, the ending offers a conventional bloody finale in which all mysticism disappears into thriller naturalism. It's hard to say whether there's more to be done with commercial ghost films than The Sixth Sense demonstrated, but Gothika is an example of a film that looks promising for 2/3 of the runtime to end up being a better Hollywood loop. It’s too bad. But thanks to the directing, camera, editing, music, Halle Berry and the rising atmosphere, it's worth seeing... Quite similar course and result to Zemeckis's thriller What Lies Beneath. The potential used is only 70%. (05.12.2005)

Gothika is a highly polarizing film, with a subpar script full of illogical constructs on one side and solid casting and excellent direction on the other. It depends on whether you want to think about the how and why... or surrender to the atmosphere and enjoy the ride. If you choose the former, deduct 15-20% from my rating. I chose the latter and came out with a 70% overall impression. For Halle Berry, it's a rewarding role that she handled with honor - definitely above average for her - and Penélope Cruz performs her usual standard, which means she did well. There were several scenes that startled me or gave me a feeling of unease, and what more can you ask for in a horror film? Gothika will never belong to the top of the genre, but it's a film worth watching once. (11.05.2007)