Amidst a messy divorce, a single mother (Jennifer Connelly) and her young daughter move into a new apartment complex with her young daughter, only to be plagued by water problems as a leak in their ceiling turns out to be something far more sinister and haunting.
Dark Water is more of a thriller/family drama with some horror elements thrown in. If you're expecting something like The Ring or The Grudge then you will most likely end up disappointed. The film does have its share of suspenseful moments but the movie really focuses on the relationship between a mother and her daughter. When the film starts, its obvious that Dark Water is going to be a sad, depressing story because of the weather in the movie. Throughout most of the movie, its always raining or looking wet so it sets its mood early on and it keeps it the same throughout most of the film. The apartment building that they move into is also dark and creepy. It's in very bad shape and there are leaks everywhere so the setting adds more suspense.
The acting is great and the cast really does make the film interesting. Jennifer Connelly is a terrific actress and she proves it again here. Ariel Gade plays the daughter and she does a pretty good job. She will most likely become a bigger star when she's older. The supporting characters are played by John C. Reilly, Camryn Manheim, Tim Roth and Dougray Scott. They all play their roles well and none of them slack off.
Walter Salles is very good at building suspense and he moves the film along smoothly. He doesn't overpopulate the film with cheap scares or loud noises which was nice to see. The ending was strong and sad yet it's realistic because it shows how much she really cared for her daughter. It's also sad at the end of the movie when they reveal what happened to the other girl. It's sad to see a parent actually forget about his or her child and the ending is done effectively so. Dark Water is not a movie for the weak of heart. Those wanting a happy ending to the sad story should probably skip Dark Water. The pacing of the film is also a little on the slow side so if you're easily bored at slow dramas then watch something else. In the end, Dark Water is an effective thriller with strong performances and a creepy atmosphere. Those wanting a horror film should look elsewhere. Rating 8/10
Dark Water is more of a thriller/family drama with some horror elements thrown in. If you're expecting something like The Ring or The Grudge then you will most likely end up disappointed. The film does have its share of suspenseful moments but the movie really focuses on the relationship between a mother and her daughter. When the film starts, its obvious that Dark Water is going to be a sad, depressing story because of the weather in the movie. Throughout most of the movie, its always raining or looking wet so it sets its mood early on and it keeps it the same throughout most of the film. The apartment building that they move into is also dark and creepy. It's in very bad shape and there are leaks everywhere so the setting adds more suspense.
The acting is great and the cast really does make the film interesting. Jennifer Connelly is a terrific actress and she proves it again here. Ariel Gade plays the daughter and she does a pretty good job. She will most likely become a bigger star when she's older. The supporting characters are played by John C. Reilly, Camryn Manheim, Tim Roth and Dougray Scott. They all play their roles well and none of them slack off.
Walter Salles is very good at building suspense and he moves the film along smoothly. He doesn't overpopulate the film with cheap scares or loud noises which was nice to see. The ending was strong and sad yet it's realistic because it shows how much she really cared for her daughter. It's also sad at the end of the movie when they reveal what happened to the other girl. It's sad to see a parent actually forget about his or her child and the ending is done effectively so. Dark Water is not a movie for the weak of heart. Those wanting a happy ending to the sad story should probably skip Dark Water. The pacing of the film is also a little on the slow side so if you're easily bored at slow dramas then watch something else. In the end, Dark Water is an effective thriller with strong performances and a creepy atmosphere. Those wanting a horror film should look elsewhere. Rating 8/10