MOVIE REVIEW
Dark Water (UHD Limited Edition)
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Genre: Horror
Year Released: 2002, 2024 Arrow Video UHD
Runtime: 1h 41m
Director(s): Hideo Nakata
Writer(s): Kôji Suzuki (novel,) Takashige Ichise, Hideo Nakata, Ken'ichi Suzuki, Yoshihiro Nakamura
Cast: Hitomi Kuroki, Rio Kanno, Mirei Oguchi, Asami Mizukawa, Fumiyo Kohinata, Yû Tokui, Isao Yatsu, Shigemitsu Ogi, Maiko Asano, Yukiko Ikari, Shinji Nomura, Kiriko Shimizu, Teruko Hanahara, Youko Yasuda, Shichirou Gou, Chisako Hara, Tôru Shinagawa, Shelley Calene-Black
Where To Watch: available March 19, 2024, pre-order here www.arrowvideo.com, www.mvdshop.com, or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: DARK WATER is more than just a dip into the shallow end of the horror genre; it's a full-on plunge into the depths where fear and reality collide with a splash. Directed by Hideo Nakata, the same mine that gave us RINGU (RING,) this film takes us on a voyage through the literal murky waters of a haunted apartment, blending suspense, mystery, and a touch of family drama. Yoshimi Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki) and her daughter Ikuko (Rio Kanno, Asami Mizukawa) find themselves in a bit more than just a fixer-upper; they're up against forces that could sweep them away into the unknown. This review peels back the layers of a chilling tale, revealing why it's both a breath of fresh air and a cold shower.

DARK WATER feels like a character in its own right; with an atmosphere of persistent drips and ominous sounds, the apartment sets a foreboding stage for the story to unfold. As both director and architect of fear, Nakata constructs an environment where every creak and leak adds to the suspense. Kuroki, embodying Yoshimi, delivers a performance so nuanced and compelling that we're instantly on her side, rooting for her to overcome her spectral challenges.

The real kicker with DARK WATER is its deliberate shying away from the genre's typical shock tactics. Instead, Nakata opts for a build-up of suspense that is more like a slowly tightening vice than a sudden jolt. This systematic approach, coupled with the film's rich cinematography and eerie sound design, creates an atmosphere whose battles aren't just with the elements but with a past that the apartment insists on dredging up. Through her encounters with an unknown vision in white, DARK WATER explores the dissolution of the family, the sting of isolation, and how supernatural elements can mirror our deepest fears. It's a narrative that crosses cultural boundaries, tapping into universal themes of anxiety and resilience.

However, DARK WATER's timing was a double-edged sword. It set the film apart for its depth and defiance of clichés but also meant that it had to work harder to capture and keep the attention of genre fans. The film's pacing is contemplative, to put it mildly. Nakata's journey can feel like a trek through a dense forest for viewers accustomed to a brisk jog through terror.

Yet, in this slow journey, DARK WATER finds its strength. Yoshimi's story is a testament to the unseen, often unacknowledged battles we face. With its relentlessness, the apartment becomes more than just a setting—it symbolizes the decay of the past that we carry with us, threatening to flood our present.

DARK WATER is a nuanced exploration of the terrains of fear, loss, and human fortitude. While it might not send you leaping from your seat, it invites you to dive deeper into its narrative currents, offering a perspective shift on the haunting aspects of everyday life. It's a film that, like the ceaseless drip from an old faucet, leaves a lasting impression, encouraging a deeper dive into what scares us, both in the supernatural and the all-too-real.

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[photo courtesy of ARROW VIDEO]

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