Gothika: The Forgotten Masterpiece
Say what you want about Halle Berry, but she walked so a lot of people could run. Her resume has touched all of the dream genres of any black actor or actress. From Flintstones to CatWoman, she’s done it all! For me, my favorite body of work of hers is Gothika.
The cast is star-studded with the aforementioned Berry, Penelope Cruz, Robert Downey Jr., Charles S. Dutton, and John Carroll Lynch.
To summarize, it’s a story about abduction, sexual assault, gaslighting, and vengeance. It answers the question of what happens when the doctor becomes the patient. Specifically, it is set in a prison/asylum where several of the women have been violated by Dr. Douglas Grey (Dutton), husband of Dr. Miranda Grey (Berry), and Sheriff Bob Ryan (Lynch). Dr. Miranda Grey has served as counselor for many of these women, including a young woman named Chloe (Cruz). Grey is tormented and possessed by Rachel, played by Kathleen Mackey.
What Didn’t Work:
“Do you know what it is to burn from the inside?”
Typically, I start with the good in any discussion. For this film, the opportunities ranged from the visuals to plot holes. As a matter of fact, it’s the two biggest points I want to highlight. This movie was dark, both literally and figuratively. Lots of scenes done in the shadows during the final act, specifically. Some of the effects were a bit cheesy, too. The last kill was straight out of a video game. They even added slow motion for dramatic effect. But that’s acceptable when you consider it was made in 2003.
The story holes were obvious: how did Dr. Grey get exonerated? How did she not get executed for the initial murder? Suspension of belief was largely at play.
What Worked:
“You can’t trust someone who thinks you’re crazy…”
Gothika has a strong original story. The closest I can think of is the second segment of Tales From The Hood, Boys Do Get Bruise. These two stories blend supernatural experience with the horror of dealing with abusive monsters. All themes are eerily relevant to this day.
On top of that, the flashback of Miranda killing Douglas was absolutely terrifying.
The appearances of the ghostly victims were also well-done. Clearly distressed and panicked, the level of pain they expressed gave you a feel for their agony. It’s what really draws you in on the perils of what victims feel.
The ultimate twist was masterful. The whole time, these two respected men engaged in this monstrous behavior. The details and scenes convinced me that murder by ax was justified. While it seems unrealistic, the world is just that sick and twisted where men of power use it for this kind of evil.
Dr. Grey’s supernatural ability allowed Rachel to piece together the mystery. She also got her revenge in the process. As for Grey, the ending left room for her ongoing experiences with the dead that were lost in the grudge. And this is also a little nugget that left me so hopeful for where this movie could go. So many sequel possibilities. The ghost of a young missing boy would’ve set Miranda on her next mission at solving a case.
Gothika set the standard for future films like The Grudge and Insidious. As I look over the horror landscape, I don’t see many films that hold up as well as it did. It’s far more worthy of a remake than what we got in The Grudge. I’m sure its rights and licensing are buried deep since Dark Castle left the scene. For now, all we have is the memories. And looking at this movie, they’re both damn good and terrifying.
