Gothika (2003)

Ghost story in which a repressed female psychiatrist wakes up as a patient in the very asylum where she worked with no memory of why she is there and what she has done.

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writer:

Sebastian Gutierrez

Stars:

Halle Berry, Robert Downey Jr., Charles S. Dutton

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Halle Berry	...	Miranda Grey
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Pete Graham
Charles S. Dutton	...	Dr. Douglas Grey
John Carroll Lynch	...	Sheriff Ryan
Bernard Hill	...	Phil Parsons
Penélope Cruz	...	Chloe Sava
Dorian Harewood	...	Teddy Howard
Bronwen Mantel	...	Irene
Kathleen Mackey	...	Rachel Parsons
Matthew G. Taylor	...	Turlington
Michel Perron	...	Joe
Andrea Sheldon	...	Tracey Seavers
Anana Rydvald	...	Glass Cell Nurse
Laura Mitchell	...	Inmate
Amy Sloan	...	Inmate

Storyline

A criminal psychologist awakens to find herself a patient in the institution where she works, with no memory of the murder she's accused of committing. As she tries to regain her memory - and her freedom - a vengeful spirit manipulates her.

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Plot Keywords:

memory | murder | patient | ghost | psychiatrist | 

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Taglines:

Not Alone.

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Genres:

Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, brief language and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Tristar [fr] WB [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gotika

Filming Locations:

Hinchinbrook, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,166,125 (Australia) (30 April 2004)

Gross:

$4,220,276 (Australia) (28 May 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Warner Bros, Dark Castle Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Halle Berry broke her arm filming a scene with Robert Downey Jr.. Downey was supposed to grab her arm and twist but twisted too hard and the arm snapped. Production was halted for eight weeks.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, they are supposed to be in New York City. However, as Chloe is getting into the cab, you can see a (partially burnt out) Tim Horton's sign in the background. Tim Horton's is a Canadian coffee shop not found in New York.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Chloe: He came back again last night and tore me like paper. He opened me like a flower of pain, and it felt good. He sank into me and set me on fire, like he always does. Made me burn from the inside out.
Miranda: How did you know it was the devil?

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Connections

Featured in The Jay Leno Show: Episode #1.4 (2009)

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Soundtracks

"Reach Out I'll Be There"
Written by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland (as Edward Holland Jr.)
Performed by The Four Tops
Courtesy of Motown Records
Under License from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Flawed, familiar but a nicely done horror/supernatural thriller.

A Brilliant Criminalogist/Psychologist Dr. Grey (Oscar-Winner:Halle Berry) at the mental hospital for woman at Woodward. Then one day, she finds herself as a Patient without knowing why. She finds out that she murdered her husband (Charles S. Dutton) and she has been seeing a Violent Spirit (Kathlenn Mackey) trying to help her to see the truth what happen to Dr. Grey and the Violent Spirit.

Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz (The Crimson Rivers, Hate) made a extremely familiar but a well made stylish supernatural horror film. This is the highest grossing film for Joel Silver (The Matrix Trilogy) and Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future Trilogy) Production Company-Dark Castle Entertainment. Kassovitz shows some strong visual style in the film makes this work. The film gets better with each viewing. One of the highlights is Matthew Libatique's cinematography (Phone Booth, Requiem for a Dream, Tigerland).

DVD has an sharp anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer and an terrific-Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an fine audio commentary track by the director and the cinematographer. DVD also features a music video and the theatrical trailer. Berry gives a good performance but she surrounded by an solid supporting cast like Robert Downey Jr., Penélope Cruz, John Carroll Lynch and Bernard Hill. The film is supposed to take place in the Upstate New York but it is nicely filmed in the country side of Montréal. The film doesn't have much logic but for a supernatural horror film, this is nicely done. (****/*****).