Post by Sushi on Apr 21, 2006 16:16:00 GMT
Review of Dark Water
I liked Ringu. Yes, I did watch it before all the hype that surrounded it, and yes I was also severely disappointed or should I say horrified by the way in which it was butchered by Hollywood (at least it scared me in one respect). So, as you would expect, I was greatly looking forward to Hideo Nakata latest offering to help me recover from mourning, however, what I am left with is a mixed bag.
Dark Water revolves around Yoshimai Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki), who after divorcing her husband faces a difficult custody battle for their daughter Ikuko (Rio Kanno), and a battle to put their lives back together again. They move into a dilapidated apartment block, with the belief that all they need is each other. However, the strain upon Yoshimai becomes relentless with her having to find work, raise Ikuko, have her actions constantly scrutinised by her ex-husband in order to gain the child he has never cared for, her roof leaking, and to top it all off, being plagued by the ghost of a six year old girl who disappeared two years ago.
Nakata shows his gift for creating a fantastically atmospheric film within Dark Water, which alone leaves me wanting to watch it once more just to appreciate it. His ability to make the apartment block itself come alive is an amazing feat, which was as much absorbing as it was unnerving. He has manipulated everything possible to use to his advantage, from the colour scheme of contrasting cool colours of the apartment which consume the warm colours of Yoshimai and Ikuko, the intricate use of background noise of rain and footsteps is as important as the careful use a of music to heighten the atmosphere, each frame is carefully constructed, and the gradual increase of water as Yoshimai is eventually drowning upon the strain of her troubles. The acting is also well executed seeing the deterioration of Yoshimai, and Rio Kanno coming into her own in the run up to the climax of the film in playing Ikuko.
However, the problem occurs with its weak predictable storyline containing little progression when it comes to the horror side of Dark Water, which is ultimately its weak point. As strange as it sounds considering it is meant to be a horror film, the realism of it detracts from the mystical aspect of the film. Upon watching, there seems to be constant struggle between a horror film, and a film about the struggle of being a single mother, which is rarely able to come together. This is not helped by the unsatisfying ending, which seemed inconsistent with the rest of the film.
Overall, Dark Water comes highly recommended just for the excellent execution by Nakata in creating an absorbing and tense atmosphere, for the few scares it offers, and the surprisingly arresting troubles of a single mother.
4/5
I liked Ringu. Yes, I did watch it before all the hype that surrounded it, and yes I was also severely disappointed or should I say horrified by the way in which it was butchered by Hollywood (at least it scared me in one respect). So, as you would expect, I was greatly looking forward to Hideo Nakata latest offering to help me recover from mourning, however, what I am left with is a mixed bag.
Dark Water revolves around Yoshimai Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki), who after divorcing her husband faces a difficult custody battle for their daughter Ikuko (Rio Kanno), and a battle to put their lives back together again. They move into a dilapidated apartment block, with the belief that all they need is each other. However, the strain upon Yoshimai becomes relentless with her having to find work, raise Ikuko, have her actions constantly scrutinised by her ex-husband in order to gain the child he has never cared for, her roof leaking, and to top it all off, being plagued by the ghost of a six year old girl who disappeared two years ago.
Nakata shows his gift for creating a fantastically atmospheric film within Dark Water, which alone leaves me wanting to watch it once more just to appreciate it. His ability to make the apartment block itself come alive is an amazing feat, which was as much absorbing as it was unnerving. He has manipulated everything possible to use to his advantage, from the colour scheme of contrasting cool colours of the apartment which consume the warm colours of Yoshimai and Ikuko, the intricate use of background noise of rain and footsteps is as important as the careful use a of music to heighten the atmosphere, each frame is carefully constructed, and the gradual increase of water as Yoshimai is eventually drowning upon the strain of her troubles. The acting is also well executed seeing the deterioration of Yoshimai, and Rio Kanno coming into her own in the run up to the climax of the film in playing Ikuko.
However, the problem occurs with its weak predictable storyline containing little progression when it comes to the horror side of Dark Water, which is ultimately its weak point. As strange as it sounds considering it is meant to be a horror film, the realism of it detracts from the mystical aspect of the film. Upon watching, there seems to be constant struggle between a horror film, and a film about the struggle of being a single mother, which is rarely able to come together. This is not helped by the unsatisfying ending, which seemed inconsistent with the rest of the film.
Overall, Dark Water comes highly recommended just for the excellent execution by Nakata in creating an absorbing and tense atmosphere, for the few scares it offers, and the surprisingly arresting troubles of a single mother.
4/5
