Did you like A.I.?  Then you may like this.  If you were like the 99% of the public that thought A.I. was awful and depressing, I strongly suggest you avoid this film...

As horror goes, Dark Water is pretty blah.  As plotlines go, the "big mystery" is a big flop.  You'll know exactly where this film is going about 10 minutes in.  Which is one reason why the filmmaker should be slapped for wasting an hour and forty minutes of the viewer's life to tell a story that is obvious in 10 minutes.

The other reason why the filmmaker should be slapped (repeatedly) is for creating a so-called "challenging" ending.  Basically, "challenging" means the creator has decided to end the story in a very unsatisfactory fashion (and rather pointlessly in this case, as there was no need for the film to end as it did, beyond a desire to "challenge" the audience.)  I hate to break it to the creator, but 90% of the viewing public doesn't watch movies to be "challenged".  We watch to be entertained.

If you're going to create a so-called "challenging" movie, maybe you should have come up with something a little more original.  Dark Water was written by the author of The Ring, and I find myself wondering if the author (Hideo Nakata) is a one-trick pony.  Yet another drowned little girl, yet another single mother and child tormented by her spirit, blah, blah, blah, *yawn*.

This film is ass, and I strongly suggest you give it a miss.  Jennifer Connelly is a decent actress and she portrays her character well, but one decent portrayal does not a great film make.  Besides, if you've already seen Ring 2, I assure you, you've already seen this film.  It's basically the same story with a more irritating ending.

Nakata is also apparently remaking The Eye which to date is my favorite horror movie of all time--I seriously hope he doesn't ruin that film.  Dark Water doesn't have me holding out much hope.  Also on his list of future remakes is The Entity which was a pretty scary film in its day.

I will probably check out the new Eye when it is out, especially since it is theoretically starring Renee Zellweger.  But it better be good.  Until then I am dreaming of kicking in the teeth of the creator of Dark Water.  I want that hour and forty minutes of my life back, please.