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Review

Walter Salles, the man behind The Motorcycle Diaries and Central Station, makes his American debut with an adaptation of the Japanese horror favorite Dark Water. After a bitter separation from her husband (Dougray Scott), Dahlia (Jennifer Connelly) moves into a frighteningly gloomy but affordable apartment with her young daughter Ceci (Ariel Gade). The struggles of single parenthood are soon on display as Dahlia tries to put her life back together and adjust to recent changes for the benefit of her daughter. Strange spooky occurrences and the arrival of Ceci’s very persistent new “imaginary friend” make things even more complicated for the recently re-located pair. Before long, Dahlia is wrapped up in a mystery that she must solve to ensure the safety of her family. Though it is not without some chilling moments (and some Japanese horror and Japanese horror remake clichés), Dark Water is a genre stand-out due to the fact that it focuses less on the supernatural elements and more on the plight of main character and her realistic life-altering experiences. Through unique cinematography and production design and an engrossing and vulnerable performance, Salles and Connelly excel at creating an eerie feeling of isolation and deeply imbedded sadness. Excellent supporting performances from Pete Postlethwaite, Tim Roth, Camryn Manheim, Elina Lowensohn and John C. Reilly are also featured. Though traditional scare-seekers may find themselves disappointed by a lack of heart-pumping suspense, Dark Water proves to be an effectively dark and dreary character study.

 -- Robert O'Neill