MPAA Rating: R
Original Review Date: February 4, 2004
Reviewed by: Jacob, Ghost Writer
In a Nutshell: Pretty good. Not quite what you're expecting,
but still pretty good.
Quick Plot: Dr. Miranda Grey works day in and day out with the
legally insane. One day, though, she wakes up on the other side
of the plexiglass in her own mental hospital. Has she somehow
tapped into the supernatural, or has she succumbed to mental
disease?
In Detail: It was pretty good. I thought it would be better,
but it was still good. There are twists and turns you don't
anticipate, which I always like, and some good creepy/jumpy
scenes along the way. Mildly disturbing in a few places, but
Halle Barry's performance is absolutely brilliant. If horror
movies ever got Oscars, she'd get another one for Gothika. My
main problem was with some suspension of disbelief and a marked
disregard for the proper functioning of the legal system. Other
than that, and a few bizarre scenes, it's pretty good.
Scare Factor: It's the kind of scary I like, where it's almost
entirely in your head. Resorts to a few loud dying cat/dying
violin screeches every now and then to make you jump, but you
squirm in your seat even without the sound effects in a few
places. There are a few disturbing images, so not for the
kiddies!
Will I Buy It? I'm going to rent it first, then maybe I'll buy
it. Depends on its repeat view scare value!
