As far as scary movies go, I'm pretty much the biggest wuss you'll ever meet. That's why it's nothing short of amazing when I actually venture to GKC Theater for something other than my usual fare of comedies and martial art flicks.
In the spirit of diversity, I make myself see a horror movie every couple of months. I've seen “The Ring” (got so scared I almost cried and wouldn't answer the phone for a month), “Ghost Ship” (not so bad), “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (the idea was scarier than the movie), “Identity” (it really freaked me out) and most recently “Gothika” (all of the above).
Now, I'm completely aware of the fact that critics tore this movie apart. It seemed like no one liked it at all and it scored a C-minus on Yahoo Movies. Since the film raked in over $42 million in its first two weeks of release, it's evident that most critics don't have their finger on the pulse of the average person.
I do; I liked it; here's why. Not only did it offer a few jump-out-and-scare-you moments, but it had some pretty interesting plot twists; and all this without showing a bunch of blood and gore.
“Gothika” stars Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry. Surprisingly, this is Berry's first role as the top-listed actress, she's usually cast next to an actor of equal billing (“Swordfish,” with John Travolta, “Die Another Day” with Pierce Brosnan and “Monster's Ball” with Billy Bob Thornton), but this time she holds the show all on her own ... and she does an awesome job!
Berry stars as Dr. Miranda Grey, a criminal psychiatrist who works in a maximum security psychiatric prison. After leaving work one stormy night, she is detoured by a washout on the road. Driving the unfamiliar route home, Miranda almost runs over a pale, ghostly, shivering girl standing in the middle of the road. When Miranda approaches her and tries to help, the girl erupts in CGI flames and Miranda blacks out. When she awakens, she finds herself on the wrong side of the cell door in the very prison she worked at, under the care of colleague Dr. Pete Graham (Robert Downey, Jr.).
Pete has the awful task of interviewing Miranda to see what she remembers about that night. When her memory stops at seeing the girl in the road, Pete tells her that she continued home and chopped her loving husband and boss, Dr. Doug Grey (Charles S. Dutton), to pieces with an axe.
Miranda tries to prove her innocence by blaming the killing on the ghostly girl, but nobody believes her. Even her husband's best friend, Sheriff Ryan (John Carroll Lynch), tries to get her to confess and asks her why she did it. Former patient-turned prison mate, Chloe (Penelope Cruz), tells Miranda that no one will believe anything she says now and that the more she tries to tell them of her innocence, the crazier they'll think she is.
“Gothika” was truly a good movie. It was a suspenseful, scary psychological thriller. Okay, so it was a little cliche and unbelievable in some parts, but that didn't take away from the movie. I mean, if you're prepared to believe that a ghost is visiting Miranda, you can believe she would be incarcerated in the same prison she worked at. Besides, if I wanted a dose of reality, I would just stay at home.
“Gothika” is rated R “for violence, brief language and nudity,” so is only recommended for the maturest of viewers. This is definitely a movie you've gotta see.
I'll be heading to GKC Varsity Cinema in the Sault for some pretty big releases over the next couple of weeks. Not only does the new Tom Cruise flick, “The Last Samurai,” promise to be excellent, but Jack Nicholson's new film, “Something's Gotta Give,” looks pretty funny. Of course, the movie we've all been waiting for will arrive on December 17 — “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” I hear GKC Varsity Cinema will have early showings that day, but you have to call the theater for details and a ticket.
Also hitting theaters over the next couple of weeks is “Honey,” “Love Don't Cost a Thing” and “Stuck on You.”
