Dark Water

Theatrical Release Date: 2005 07 08 (USA)

UPC: 786936693973

Studio: Touchstone / Disney

Summary: Directed by Walter Salles Jr., this remake of Hideo Nakata's supernatural psychological drama Honogurai Mizuno Soko Kara revolves around the plight of a single mother (Jennifer Connelly) whose messy divorce and subsequent battle for the custody of her five-year-old daughter is taking a heavy toll on her emotional well-being. Ultimately, the mother and daughter are able to relocate to an apartment, which, despite its excessively dilapidated interior, seems to be an adequate location for beginning a new life. Before long, however, what appears to be the spirit of a young girl begins to haunt them. No stranger to mental illness, the wary young woman brushes the visions aside as part of the inherent stress of making the transition from housewife to working, single mom. As time goes by and the apparent haunting does not subside, the apartment's new residents are forced to examine the history of its former tenants. Dark Water also features performances from John C. Reilly, Tim Roth, and Dougray Scott. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Category: Horror

Features: "Beneath the Surface: The Making of Dark Water" featurette
"The Sound of Terror: The Subliminal Soundscapes of Dark Water" - Featurette on the movie's sound design
Wall of water

Dark Water

Format: Universal Media Disc

Release Date: 12/26/2005

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Runtime: 103 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Jason Buchanan

It's easy to get frustrated with Hollywood when considering the studio system's over-reliance on remakes and at times seemingly paralyzing phobia of producing anything that could be perceived as remotely original -- and for fans of Japanese horror films in particular, the remake explosion has cut especially close to the bone. In rare cases, though, when given time and careful consideration -- and when the original shows promise yet lacks perfection -- a remake can be a truly satisfying and more effective extension of the concepts presented in the original. With his remake of Ring director Hideo Nakata's 2002 thriller Dark Water, Motorcycle Diaries director Walter Salles achieves the rare feat of actually improving on the original, thanks in no small part to the screenwriting skills of Rafael Yglesias -- who realized that a little subtlety can go a long way. Not only are the actions of the characters more believable in the American incarnation of K?ji Suzuki's dark mystery, but by reducing the focus on the now-clich?d creepy little girl with long hair and instead focusing on the mental deterioration of the mother, the strain of her failed marriage, and the frail but loving relationship that she shares with her daughter, Yglesias and Salles allow the viewer to truly connect with the characters before ratcheting up the tension by introducing the supernatural element. While it is true that some of the more explicit "scare" scenes were excised in this version in favor of crafting better-drawn characters, the substitution ultimately makes the end payoff more effective. Even for those who don't have children, it will be difficult not to empathize with the mother who, while quite possibly emotionally unbalanced, does her best to reconcile the trauma of her own childhood, and it's here where actress Jennifer Connelly truly brings the character of Dahlia to life. The supporting players -- including John C. Reilly's hoagie-chomping slumlord, Tim Roth's phone-camera-happy lawyer, and Pete Postlethwaite's crusty superintendent -- also shine, with Salles and Yglesias providing just enough character quirks to allow them to stand out and make an impression. Another performance worth mentioning is Dougray Scott's portrayal of Dahlia's husband, Kyle -- a role effectively expanded in the American version to both give viewers a better understanding of Dahlia's past and enhance the mystery. Though younger audiences may not be able to connect with Dark Water as well as older viewers due to its mature themes and favoring of slow-burn dread over quick-cut shocks, the film remains a shining example of low-key psychological horror that, while remaining true to its roots in the J-horror movement, transcends its mediocre origins to provide chills that run deep and will likely only improve with age. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Bill Buell  Actor 
Linda Emond  Actor 
Edward Kennington  Actor 
Elina Löwensohn  Actor 
muMs  Actor 
Debra Monk  Actor 
Diego Fuentes  Actor 
Kate Hewlett  Actor 
Simon Reynolds  Actor 
Alison Sealy-Smith  Actor 
Matt Lemcke  Actor 
Jennifer Baxter  Actor 
Zoe Heath  Actor 
J.R. Horne  Actor 
Warren Belle  Actor 
Angelo Badalamenti  Composer (Music Score) 
Takashige Ichise  Producer 
Walter Salles, Jr.  Director 
Rafael Yglesias  Screenwriter 
Doug Davison  Producer 
Roy Lee  Producer 
Bill Mechanic  Producer 
Ashley Kramer  Executive Producer 
Jennifer Connelly  Actor 
John C. Reilly  Actor 
Tim Roth  Actor 
Dougray Scott  Actor 
Pete Postlethwaite  Actor 
Camryn Manheim  Actor 
Ariel Gade  Actor 
Perla Haney-Jardine  Actor 

Country: USA