Gothika (2003)

Director:

Mathieu Kassovitz

Writer (WGA):

Sebastian Gutierrez (written by)

Release Date:

21 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Mystery

Tagline:

Because someone is dead doesn't mean they're gone.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Memory | Ghost | Psychiatrist | Murder | Patient

Awards:

2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

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
Noël Burton	...	Prison Doctor
Benz Antoine	...	Guard
Andy Bradshaw	...	Guard
Jason Cavalier	...	Guard
Jasson Finney	...	Guard
Terry Simpson	...	Guard
Kwasi Songui	...	Guard
Caroline Van Vlaardingen	...	Reporter
Al Vandecruys	...	Reporter
Noah Bernett	...	Tim

Directed by
Mathieu Kassovitz

Writing credits (WGA)
Sebastian Gutierrez		(written by)

Produced by
Don Carmody	....	executive producer
Susan Downey	....	producer (as Susan Levin)
Melina Kevorkian	....	co-producer
Adam Kuhn	....	associate producer
L. Levin	....	producer
Richard Mirisch	....	co-producer
Steve Richards	....	executive producer
Joel Silver	....	producer
Gary Ungar	....	executive producer
Robert Zemeckis	....	producer
Jefferson Richard	....	line producer: additional photography (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Ottman

Cinematography by
Matthew Libatique		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Yannick Kergoat

Casting by
Marci Liroff

Production Design by
Graham 'Grace' Walker

Art Direction by
Isabelle Guay		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Marie-Claude Gosselin

Costume Design by
Kym Barrett

Makeup Department
Caroline Aquin	....	special makeup effects artist
Camille Belanger	....	makeup artist (as Camille Bélanger)
Mary Burton	....	makeup artist
André Duval	....	key hair stylist
Erik Gosselin	....	key makeup effects artist
Karl Gosselin	....	key makeup effects artist
Frédérik Guilbert	....	makeup effects artist (as Frederick Guilbert)
Marifrance Guy	....	makeup effects artist (as Marie-France Guy)
Whitney James	....	makeup artist: Penelope Cruz
Lizane La Salle	....	assistant makeup artist: extras
Francois Laliberte	....	makeup effects artist
Anne-Marie Lanza	....	hair stylist
Félix Larivière	....	key hair stylist
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist: Halle Berry
Louise Mignault	....	key makeup artist
Pierre Saindon	....	makeup artist
Mark Townsend	....	hair stylist: Penelope Cruz
Manon Boucher	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Christiane Fattori	....	personal makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Liz Amsden	....	production supervisor
Adam Avery	....	post-production supervisor
Francis Choquette	....	unit manager
Micheline Garant	....	unit production manager
Denis Lemieux	....	assistant unit manager
Barbara Russo	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alexandre Bernard	....	daily assistant director
Alexandre Bernard	....	third assistant director
Charles-André Bertrand	....	additional third assistant director
Nadine Brassard	....	third assistant director
Pierre Brassard	....	second assistant director
Stéphane Byl	....	third assistant director
Ariane Côté-Chénier	....	additional third assistant director
Angèle Gagnon	....	second second assistant director
Benoît Hamel	....	assistant director: second unit
Jim Kaufman	....	first assistant director (as James Kaufman)
Jacques Laberge	....	first assistant director
Emilie Malo	....	third assistant director
Laurence Mercier	....	second second assistant director
Brian O'Sullivan	....	first assistant director: reshoots
Spiro Razatos	....	second unit director
Théo Thivierge	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Frédéric Amblard	....	set designer
Natacha Antiglio	....	art department coordinator
Serge Archambault	....	head scenic artist
Ilinca Balaban	....	assistant to designer (2003)
Mario Barriere	....	swing gang
Hans Barzeele	....	swing gang
Patrick Boulianne	....	swing gang
Michel Brochu	....	construction coordinator
Simon Chamberland	....	set dresser
Frederic Chamoro	....	swing gang
Louis Frederic Denomme	....	set dresser
Bernard Dion	....	swing gang
Nicolas Fering	....	swing gang
Marie-Claude Gosselin	....	key set decorator
Jenny Hitchcock	....	set designer
Geof Isherwood	....	storyboard artist
Helene Lamarre	....	art coordinator
Brent Lambert	....	set designer
Joel Andrew Larson	....	storyboard artist
Danny Lebel	....	swing gang
Nicolas Lepage	....	assistant art director
Carl Lessard	....	graphic designer
Jean-Phillipe Marsan	....	swing gang
Jean-Pierre Paquet	....	assistant art director
Christian Pierre	....	swing gang
Alain Poloni	....	swing gang
Phil Shearer	....	concept illustrator
Eric Turenne	....	swing gang
Stéphane Turpin	....	swing gang
André Valade	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Richard Adrian	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Alba	....	first assistant sound editor
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Bartlett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bradford Bell	....	sound effects mastering
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects editor
Ed Callahan	....	foley editor
Michael Camello	....	sound editor
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	supervising dialogue editor
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Valerie Davidson	....	foley supervisor
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr supervisor
Maxime Ferland	....	boom operator
Marshall Garlington	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Henry Godding Jr.	....	adr recordist: Montreal
David Grimaldi	....	foley editor
Denise Horta	....	adr editor
Denise Horta	....	dialogue editor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor (as Fred Howard)
Michael Edward Johnson	....	sound effects editor (as Mike Johnson)
Mark Larry	....	sound effects editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Del Martin	....	assistant sound editor
Matthew McKenzie	....	adr recordist
Colin McLellan	....	adr recordist
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist
Tak Ogawa	....	sound designer
James Azizi Penny	....	sound effects mastering
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer
Eryne Prine	....	second assistant sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Patrick Rousseau	....	sound mixer
Martin Schloemer	....	sound recordist
Mark Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donna G. Walker	....	sound effects coordinator
Bryan O. Watkins	....	sound effects editor (as Bryan Watkins)

Special Effects by
Louis Craig	....	special effects director
Louis Craig	....	special effects supervisor
Pierre Côté	....	special effects technician
Mario Dumont	....	special effects floor supervisor
Chris Hopkins	....	rig/comp artist: DFW
André Laforest	....	special effects best boy
André Laforest	....	special effects technician
Philippe Roberge	....	special effects technician
Sebastien Roussel	....	special effects technician
Michel Verdon	....	fabricator/welder
Martin Williams	....	special effects technician
Bernard Guay	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main titles
Steve Arguello	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Jeff Barnes	....	executive producer: CafeFX
Timur 'Taron' Baysal	....	head of research and development: CafeFX
Timur 'Taron' Baysal	....	look developer: fire and explosion, CafeFX
Cosmas Paul Bolger Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor
Mike Bozulich	....	compositor: CafeFX
Danny Braet	....	digital effects supervisor: ComputerCafe
Edward Brizio	....	visual effects editor (as Eduardo Brizio)
Everett Burrell	....	digital artist: CafeFX
Lee Carlton	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Jeremy Cho	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Daniele Colajacomo	....	visual effects supervisor: 3DSite
Louis Craig	....	visual effects supervisor
David Ebner	....	facilities supervisor
David Ebner	....	senior digital effects supervisor: CafeFX
Chow Emrich	....	animator: 3DSite (as Robert Emrich)
Chow Emrich	....	lighter: 3DSite (as Robert Emrich)
Steven Fagerquist	....	visual effects
Vicki Galloway-Weimer	....	visual effects producer: CafeFX (as Vicki Galloway Weimer)
Jeff Goldman	....	digital effects supervisor: CafeFX
Victor Grant	....	look developer: fire and explosion, CafeFX
Trevor Harder	....	digital effects artist
Erik Henry	....	visual effects supervisor
Justin Johnson	....	visual effects
Grzegorz Jonkajtys	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX (as Greg Jonkajtys)
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist
Gary Laurie	....	3D matchmover: 3DSite
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Votch Levi	....	digital compositor: CafeFX
Sal Migliore	....	assistant colorist
Phillip Moses	....	visual effects coordinator: CafeFX
Fred Mugford	....	animator: 3DSite
Fred Mugford	....	lighter: 3DSite
Thomas Scott Nelson	....	modeler: 3DSite
Thomas Scott Nelson	....	texture artist: 3DSite
Toby Newell	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Akira Orikasa	....	digital artist: CafeFX
Desi Ortiz	....	visual effects editor: CafeFx
Marco S. Paolini	....	digital compositor
Phil Pham	....	digital compositor: 3DSite
Chris Reid	....	look developer: fire and explosion, CafeFX
Minoru Sasaki	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Brian Smallwood	....	digital effects artist
Tony Solomons	....	visual effects editor
Nic Spier	....	digital artist
Gabriel Vargas	....	digital effects artist: CafeFX
Shannon Wegner	....	digital effects artist
Mark Douglas Wells	....	animator: 3DSite (as Mark Wells)
Mark Douglas Wells	....	lighter: 3DSite (as Mark Wells)
Bob Wiatr	....	digital compositor
Johnny Wilson	....	visual effects
Joseph A. Zaki	....	lead digital compositor (as Joseph Zaki)
Christopher Grandel	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company (uncredited)

Stunts
Annie Carignan	....	stunts
Dean Copkov	....	stunt driver
François Gauthier	....	stunts
Nathalie Girard	....	stunt performer
Stéphane Lefebvre	....	stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt coordinator
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt driver
Crystal Michelle	....	stunt performer (as Crystal Dyson)
Minor Mustain	....	stunt coordinator
Hilary Porter	....	stunts
Edward A. Queffelec	....	stunt driver
Sharlene Royer	....	stunt double: Halle Berry
Helen Stranzl	....	stunts
John Topor	....	stunts
Kym Washington	....	stunt double
Edward A. Queffelec	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernard Arseneau	....	gaffer: second unit
Yves Arseneau	....	rigging electrician
Claude Beauchamp	....	first assistant camera
Stephane Boisvert	....	generator operator
Philippe Bossé	....	photographer: art department photography
Pierre Charpentier	....	dolly grip
Carla Clarke	....	first assistant camera: second camera
François Daignault	....	camera operator
Jean-François Dasylva-LaRue	....	electrician
Jean-Yves Denis	....	grip
Attila Dory	....	still photographer
Sylvaine Dufaux	....	additional camera operator
Denis Giroux	....	electrician
Dan Goyens	....	electrician
René Guillard	....	rigging gaffer
Stephanie Girard Hamelin	....	video assist operator
John Harris	....	second rigging electrician
Andy C. Huber	....	gaffer: additional photography
Pierric Jouvante	....	electrician
Jean Kavanagh	....	second assistant camera
Soupharak Keoborakoth	....	film loader
Christopher Kiso	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Isabelle Lecompte	....	assistant camera
François Legris	....	electrician
Jacques Levesque	....	lighting board operator
John Lewin	....	gaffer
Kenneth MacKenzie	....	key grip
Alfonso Maiorana	....	additional camera operator
Nicolas Marion	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Igor Meglic	....	director of photography: second unit
Brian O'Donnell	....	rigging grip
Christophe Pommiès	....	electrician
Martin Protat	....	second assistant camera
Eric Proulx	....	grip
Michel Périard	....	key grip
David Reinhard	....	daily second assistant camera
Brent Robinson	....	underwater first assistant camera
Pete Romano	....	underwater director of photography
Alain Rousseau	....	assistant camera
Mario Roussy	....	key grip
Jeff Scott	....	best boy electric
Michel St. Martin	....	grip
Paul Tremblay	....	best boy grip
Rafael 'Rafa' Castro	....	video assist operator: additional photography (uncredited)

Animation Department
Chow Emrich	....	animator

Casting Department
Andrea Kenyon	....	casting: Canada
Gabriel Lavina	....	casting assistant: Montreal
Jamie Sparer Roberts	....	casting associate
Shawn Roberts	....	casting assistant
Leslie Roycroft	....	extras casting
Randi Wells	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Hélène Belanger	....	costumer
Maren Brown	....	assistant to costume designer
Jennifer Lys Grenier	....	costumer
Catherine Gélinas	....	key dresser
Lisa Lovaas	....	costume supervisor
Margarita Manoukian	....	costumer
Simonetta Mariano	....	costume supervisor
Peggy A. Schnitzer	....	assistant costume designer
Renée Tremblay	....	costumer
Alain Vallée	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Jill Bogdanowicz	....	digital intermediate colorist
Olivier Gourlay	....	first assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (as Dale Grahn)
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Christopher Hills-Wright	....	assistant editor
Nicolae Ilies	....	colorist: dailies
Harold Parker	....	assistant editor
Tony Solomons	....	additional editor

Music Department
Robb Boyd	....	assistant music editor
Amanda Goodpaster	....	music editor
Mark Graham	....	music librarian
Damon Intrabartolo	....	conductor
Damon Intrabartolo	....	orchestrator
Frank Macchia	....	score synth programmer
John Ottman	....	orchestrator
Bart Samolis	....	musician
Jim Schultz	....	assistant music editor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Lior Rosner	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bertrand Calmeau	....	driver
Alain Caporicci	....	driver captain
Aleck Duncan	....	driver: Halle Berry
Stéphane Giroux	....	driver: cast and production
Michel Mollicone	....	transportation coordinator
Greagrey Waldrop	....	transportation captain (as Greag Waldrop)
Christian Biron	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Barbara Alexandre	....	photo double/understudy
Sim Bajaj	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Vinlyn Beckles	....	assistant: Halle Berry
Stephen Bender	....	office assistant
James F. Breithaupt	....	production accountant
Pierre Brunet	....	key location manager
Debbie-Anne Champagne	....	production staff
Yannick Champagne	....	assistant craft service
John Charles	....	software engineer: Sony DAC
Nickey Chow	....	accounting clerk
Guillaume Colboc	....	assistant: Mathieu Kassovitz
Marie-Christine D'Amours	....	production secretary
Melanie Dallaire	....	production secretary
Marie Dumont	....	floor manager
Karim El Fassi	....	key set production assistant
Rick Elmore	....	assistant: Robert Downey Jr.
Joe Everett	....	unit publicist
Patrick Galipeau	....	production assistant
Alessandro Gallizzi	....	production assistant
David Gambino	....	assistant: Susan Levin
Christina Giffen	....	assistant: Penelope Cruz
Paule Greslot	....	office assistant
Joanne T. Harwood	....	script supervisor
Maral Hassib	....	production coordinator (as Manal Hassib)
Polly Johnsen	....	studio executive (uncredited)
Jean-Patrick Joseph	....	special equipment supplier
Melina Kevorkian	....	assistant: Joel Silver
Nathalie Lagacé	....	second assistant accountant
Valérie Lapierre	....	payroll accountant
Dominique Leroutier	....	location manager
Gilles Montreuil	....	assistant accountant
Erick Nyhuis	....	production assistant
Harley Pasternak	....	trainer: Halle Berry
Monique Perez	....	assistant to producer
Denis Proulx	....	key medic
Michael Ryan Sikov	....	assistant: Steve Richards (as Michael Sikov)
Victorine Tamafo	....	production coordinator
Randy Thomas	....	photo double/understudy
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
• Dark Castle Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (2003) (North America) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2004) (non-USA) (all media)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Nordisk Film Distributors (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Blitz (2003) (Croatia) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)

Special Effects

• Lifemaker Inc. (special make-up effects)
• Intrigue (mechanical effects)
• CafeFX (visual effects)
• 3DSite (visual effects)
• Howard Anderson Company, The (visual effects)
• Digital Filmworks (visual effects)
• Satellite Studios (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Danetracks  sound post-production
• Hollywood Caterers  catering
• Momentous Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Picture Mill, The  main titles designed by
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Technicolor  color and prints
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack published by
• Visual Motion  camera trucks and trailers provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, brief language and nudity

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Japan:PG-12 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18PL | USA:R (certificate #40310) | France:-12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Germany:16 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Hinchinbrook, Québec, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

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.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Miranda emerges from the swimming pool where she hiding from the guards, she screams, but her voice doesn't echo throughout the room.

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?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Round 1, Game 37 (#21.149)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Papa Was a Rolling Stone

Don't believe the hype, this is worth a look

Stars operating at the level of Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz are bound to disappoint critics along the way, especially when the critics are just waiting for some sign of weakness upon which to feed. While there is nothing wrong with any of the acting in this film - these are not the kinds of roles Oscar winners and nominees are expected to indulge in.

What's more, Berry and Cruz signed onto a film made by a production team which has typecast itself with some fairly disappointing ghost stories / horror films involving big-names in the recent past.

Finally, this is one of those cases where the trailer was so good that the film could not possibly follow it.

So what?

If you approach this film without expectations, and with an open mind, you will be entertained. It's a tight, disturbing psychological/supernatural thriller which, though a little predictable at times, nevertheless offers some frightening imagery and a few good solid scares. That said, this is not a film for people who have trouble paying attention or for people who need straightforward answers. If you don't really pay attention to what is going on in this film, you could easily dismiss it as a more adult version of Sixth Sense or just another dumb ghost story. This film deserves more credit than that.

Personally, I don't think it's a ghost story at all- but that is a question best left open.

I have seen a number of films by this team - House on Haunted Hill, 13 Ghosts and Ghost Ship. Of these, I found 13 Ghosts and the House on Haunted Hill to be entertaining, but not very intelligent. Ghost Ship was tremendously disappointing - even Gabriel Byrne could not save that film. Gothika is easily the best of the lot, and also the darkest. The film is shot in dark blue, black and gray tones, and the use of lighting is nothing short of artistic. Despite the cliché title, the occasional plot clichés, and all the negative publicity generated by critics, I found this film to be surprisingly entertaining, intelligent, and disturbing.

Most of the 'plot holes' cited by some reviewers here on IMDb are more likely gaps in the attention spans of the viewers themselves or intentional ambiguities designed by the production team. This, unlike any of this team's previous work, does not provide unambiguous explanations.

Cruz and Berry are, respectively, patient and psychiatrist in a high security prison for the criminally insane. The Gothic environment of this facility is not meant to be realistic, but surreal, and the effect works. From the first time you see the place, you question its own reality. The film constantly manipulates mood through cinematographic techniques like this.

Shortly after the film opens, Berry finds herself experiencing what some of her allegedly delusional patients talk to her about. Robert Downey's portrayal of her friend and, now, therapist, is uneven, but satisfactory.

To describe the rest of the plot would require spoilers, so I won't bother. Suffice to say that even the occasional predictability of this film did not detract from my enjoyment of it.

The film uses just enough ambiguity to permit the audience to wonder whether what they are seeing is really happening or whether it is a product of our protagonist's subconscious mind. And then, in the end, the film makes you question whether it matters.