Too many inconsistencies, gaping plot holes plague ‘Gothika’

The 95-minute "Gothika" feels like a movie that once was much longer, but was hacked to pieces while being dragged kicking and screaming toward a more compact running time.

There's nothing wrong with wanting a movie to be short and to the point. But it shouldn't leave gaping holes, inconsistencies and just plain illogical plot points lying around for audience members to trip over as they attempt to enjoy a good thriller.

Halle Berry plays Miranda Grey, a criminal psychologist, married to Doug Grey (Charles S. Dutton), the chief of the psychiatric ward at a women's prison.

We get a cursory look at Miranda's skills as a doctor, and a brief introduction to Dr. Peter Graham (Robert Downey Jr.) and inmate Chloe (Penelope Cruz) before Miranda heads off into the dark and stormy night, which forces her to take a detour on her way home.

After crossing a rickety bridge, she nearly runs over a shivering, bloody girl who bursts into flames when Miranda tries to help her. Miranda wakes up three days later in the women's prison -- this time, she's locked up -- accused of violently murdering her husband.

So far, so good -- it's an intriguing premise. But "Gothika" then takes a dive into the supernatural.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but the motivation, timing and commission of the murder -- and several of the events that come along in the aftermath -- make little sense. I'm not talking about real-world logic vs. the supernatural -- of course, the things that happen in this film are unrealistic to most sane people who would be watching. But most movies still need to have their own internal logic, no matter how fantastical their subject matter, to work well.

Berry is merely good in her role -- but some of the lines she has to deliver are too lame to take seriously. Cruz is deglamorized and actually slightly creepy, and Downey is his usual charming on-screen self.

But the trio of actors can't overcome a thriller that isn't very thrilling, and a mystery that is only partially satisfying.

Additional Information:

'Gothika'

Director : Mathieu Kassovitz

MPAA rating : R for violence, brief language and nudity

Critic's rating :