I personally am a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan films, I think the guy is a genius, am I’m not scared to say it. I know what most critics think of him and his work, and personally I don’t care, and my track record of the films of his that I have reviewed shows it. Last year with The Village I believe that he gave us his weakest film, however I did enjoy the film, but was able to call the surprise ending about one quarter of the way though on a hunch. Lady in the Water is far superior to that film, however in terms of a story and astrosphere comparing the two films would just be ridiculous on my part.
One thing that Shyamalan does that I know has upset a lot of critics, is that he put a critic in this film. Many say it’s his way of back lashing the critics that gave The Village a bad review. They all looked at this part in the film as a “screw you” kind of means. Shyamalan also is quoted as saying that he does not care what critics think of his films. And well it goes to show that most critics panned this film as a dud as well. I can look past that shit though. I don’t let it bother me, because the real truth that I think Shyamalan is trying to say is that some critics are so stuck up and can’t be satisfied with any film they say, that they all have lost the true meaning of going to the movies. Which is to escape reality for a few hours and get lost in the story. Not all films are meant to be an excellent artistic achievement. Films such as The Village and Lady in the Water are made for the pure fact of entertainment purposes. Some may argue that all films are some kind of artistic achievement, and they are partially right. But do mean to tell me like films like A Nightmare on Elm Street or Spider-man are meant to be artistic achievements. No way! They were made to scare, thrill, make money for the studios and most importantly entertain the viewer by letting them escape reality for a while. No enough of my bickering.
The Lady in the Water, unlike the trailer makes it out to be is not some kind of scary horror film. Now don’t get me wrong it has Lord of the Rings type scares in it, but nothing that horror like at all. In fact the overall body count in the film is one. Anybody want to guess who get killed. Hint: Read above!
The film is based on a bedtime story that Shyamalan tells his two daughters. It follows an apartment building superintendent named Cleveland Heep (Paul Giamatti). Cleveland is well liked by all the tenants of the The Cove complex, and is there everyday taking care of all their needs and concerns. He then realizes that someone has been swimming in the pool after hours at night and is causing a lot of problems to occur with the pool filter. One night he hears noises in the pool and goes outside to investigate. He then wakes up in his apartment with a beautiful young girl next to him. She then reveals to him who she is what her problem are. Cleveland then experiences the battle between good and evil in a sense, between the young girl named Story (Bryce Dallas Howard) and the creature that lives in the grass. All in all, and yes the story can get confusing. Story is a Nymph whom has come to the land from the water to help change the direction the human race is headed in order to save mankind. With her message for the people who live in the complex, the future of mankind will be saved. That’s if and only if they can work together to get Story home.
Shyamalan’s script does start off very slow, and I did find myself bored towards the beginning of the film. However the boredom did last long and I found myself really getting into the plot of the movie. The script does have a good message in it, and towards the end of the film we find out the whole meaning of the story and what Shyamalan’s message is in it. I personally think that if this is a bed time story he tells his kids, then he leading his kids in the right direction, That’s just a personal thought of mine. As I mentioned above the film is pretty much a Fantasy/Thriller, with a twist of magical suspense, that a young child would enjoy.
The overall acting in the film is superb. Paul Giamatti is great as Cleveland Heep, a gentle man with a secret that has plagued him for part of his life. Bryce Dallas Howard, whom I find to be a very attractive young women, and an unbelievable actress does a great job as the good hearted and innocent nymph Story. I also have to say the rest of the supporting cast including Shyamalan himself did a great job as well in this film.
As far as special effects go we get mostly a CGI based effects films, with minimal make-up effects. The CGI is ok, some of it looks a bit fake, but it’s easy to see past it. I must admit though I did admire the way the make-up was applied to the character of Story when she became ill or was in peril. The tree people at the end know as Tartutics, looked very impressive for the short scene they were in.
Overall, Lady in the Water started out a bit slow, but as the film moved along I really got into it. Shyamalan gives us characters that are brave and caring towards one another, and his message of hope among the world is clear. That as a race that is far superior to any being on this planet, we all must stop to help one another after a while and learn to work as a team to solve the problems that humanity faces today. After all that is the true message of this film and a good one at that.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
