# Gothika

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2003 film by Mathieu Kassovitz

Gothika Theatrical release poster Directed by Mathieu Kassovitz Written by Sebastian Gutierrez Produced by Joel Silver Robert Zemeckis Susan Levin Starring Halle Berry Robert Downey Jr. Charles S. Dutton John Carroll Lynch Bernard Hill Penélope Cruz Cinematography Matthew Libatique Edited by Yannick Kergoat Music by John Ottman Production companies Warner Bros. Pictures Columbia Pictures Dark Castle Entertainment Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (USA/Canada/Japan) Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (International) Release date November 21, 2003 (2003-11-21) Running time 98 minutes Country United States[1] Language English Budget $40 million[2] Box office $141.6 million[2]

***Gothika*** is a 2003 American [supernatural horror film](/source/Supernatural_horror_film) directed by [Mathieu Kassovitz](/source/Mathieu_Kassovitz), written by [Sebastian Gutierrez](/source/Sebastian_Gutierrez_(director)), co-produced by [Joel Silver](/source/Joel_Silver) and [Robert Zemeckis](/source/Robert_Zemeckis), and starring [Halle Berry](/source/Halle_Berry) with [Robert Downey Jr.](/source/Robert_Downey_Jr.), [Penélope Cruz](/source/Pen%C3%A9lope_Cruz), [Charles S. Dutton](/source/Charles_S._Dutton), [John Carroll Lynch](/source/John_Carroll_Lynch), and [Bernard Hill](/source/Bernard_Hill). The film follows a psychiatrist who finds herself incarcerated in the penitentiary in which she works, accused of brutally murdering her husband.

The fourth project developed by production company [Dark Castle Entertainment](/source/Dark_Castle_Entertainment), following 2002's *[Ghost Ship](/source/Ghost_Ship_(2002_film))*, *Gothika* was the second film by the company to be co-distributed by [Warner Bros. Pictures](/source/Warner_Bros._Pictures) and [Columbia Pictures](/source/Columbia_Pictures), the first being *[Thirteen Ghosts](/source/Thirteen_Ghosts)*. It was also Dark Castle's first major scale production and the first to boast a number of high-profile stars in its lead roles.[3] *Gothika* was shot in [Quebec](/source/Quebec) in the spring of 2003.

The film was released theatrically in the United States on November 21, 2003, the Friday before [Thanksgiving](/source/Thanksgiving_(United_States)). The film grossed $141.6 million internationally, though it received generally negative reviews from critics.

## Plot

Dr. Miranda Grey, a psychiatrist at Woodward Penitentiary in rural western [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut), crashes her car one night on a country road to avoid hitting a young woman. When she awakens, she finds herself an inmate of the women's ward in which she works, receiving treatment from her colleague, Dr. Pete Graham. Pete reveals that her husband, Douglas, has been the victim of a brutal [axe murder](/source/Axe_murder), and she is the sole suspect. As Miranda attempts to adjust to life as an inmate, she is haunted by visions of the young woman she saw the night of the car accident, and is attacked by her apparition; the woman carves the phrase "Not Alone" into Miranda's arm, though hospital staff presume she is [self-harming](/source/Self-harm).

Miranda bonds with fellow inmate Chloe Sava, whom she treated before her incarceration. One night, she witnesses Chloe being raped and glimpses a tattoo of an [Anima Sola](/source/Anima_Sola) on the perpetrator's chest, though the guards do not believe her. As time passes, she regains memories of the car accident. She identifies the mysterious woman as Rachel, the daughter of her superior, Dr. Phil Parsons, who had died in an apparent [suicide](/source/Suicide) several years prior. Late one night, Miranda is attacked by Rachel's ghost and escapes the hospital. She returns to her home and observes the crime scene. This triggers vivid memories of Miranda committing Douglas's murder.

Miranda visits Douglas' rural farmhouse in [Rhode Island](/source/Rhode_Island), hoping it will contain clues. In a cellar in the barn, she finds a blood-stained mattress, along with sedatives, restraints, and video recording equipment. One of the tapes is revealed to be a [snuff film](/source/Snuff_film) shot by Douglas, which shows him raping, torturing, and murdering a young woman. Police arrive, arresting Miranda and finding one of Douglas's victims, Tracey Seaver, still alive in the barn. Miranda realizes that Rachel [possessed](/source/Spirit_possession) her to carry out the act and avenge Rachel's own murder by Douglas.

Incarcerated in the county jail, Miranda speaks to Sheriff Bob Ryan, Douglas' best friend, about her belief that Rachel's suicide was staged and a second perpetrator was involved. Using her expertise as a psychiatrist, she constructs a psychological profile of the second perpetrator and realizes it is Ryan, who then attempts to inject her with a sedative. In the struggle, she tears at his shirt, revealing the Anima Sola tattoo on his chest. She turns the syringe on Ryan before fleeing. In a drugged state, he pursues her, telling her that Rachel was their first victim, and he and Douglas worked together to abduct, rape, and murder local women. Rachel's apparition appears and Ryan shoots at it, causing an explosion that sets him ablaze. Miranda shoots the burned Ryan to death. Moments later, Pete arrives to save her, having realized the truth.

A year later, Miranda, now freed, walks with Chloe, also released, on a city sidewalk. After Chloe leaves, Miranda sees a young boy on the road who is about to be struck by a fire truck. However, the fire truck passes right through him and she realizes he is only a ghost, failing to notice the "Missing" flyer of the boy.

## Cast

- [Halle Berry](/source/Halle_Berry) as Dr. Miranda Grey

- [Robert Downey Jr.](/source/Robert_Downey_Jr.) as Dr. Pete Graham

- [Penélope Cruz](/source/Pen%C3%A9lope_Cruz) as Chloe Sava

- [Charles S. Dutton](/source/Charles_S._Dutton) as Dr. Douglas Grey

- [John Carroll Lynch](/source/John_Carroll_Lynch) as Sheriff Bob Ryan

- [Bernard Hill](/source/Bernard_Hill) as Phil Parsons

- [Dorian Harewood](/source/Dorian_Harewood) as Teddy Howard

- [Bronwen Mantel](/source/Bronwen_Mantel) as Irene

- Kathleen Mackey as Rachel Parsons

- Matthew G. Taylor as Turlington

- Michel Perron as Joe

- Andrea Sheldon as Tracey Seaver

## Production

### Development

The fourth feature film produced by [Dark Castle Entertainment](/source/Dark_Castle_Entertainment), *Gothika* was the first to boast a high-profile leading cast, and was the company's largest-scale production at the time,[3] with a budget of approximately $40 million.[2]

### Casting

Berry was partly inspired to take the role because her mother, a nurse, worked in a psychiatric hospital for decades.[4]

### Filming

Filming took place on-location in [Quebec, Canada](/source/Quebec%2C_Canada) in the spring of 2003.[5] The film was largely shot at the abandoned St. Vincent-de-Paul Prison in [Laval](/source/Laval%2C_Quebec).[6] Other scenes were filmed throughout [Montreal](/source/Montreal), [Hinchinbrooke](/source/Hinchinbrooke%2C_Quebec), [Oka](/source/Oka%2C_Quebec), and [Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu](/source/Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu).

Shooting of Berry's sequences was temporarily halted for several weeks in May 2003, after Robert Downey Jr., while filming a tense scene with Berry, grabbed and twisted her arm, accidentally breaking it.[4][5]

## Soundtrack

The score's original music was composed by [John Ottman](/source/John_Ottman), with additional cues by [Lior Rosner](/source/Lior_Rosner). "[Behind Blue Eyes](/source/Behind_Blue_Eyes)" by [Limp Bizkit](/source/Limp_Bizkit) (originally by [The Who](/source/The_Who)) was featured in the film but was not available on the soundtrack. The record was released on November 18, 2003, via [Varèse Sarabande](/source/Var%C3%A8se_Sarabande).[7]

## Release

*Gothika* was released on November 21, 2003 in North America, opening the Friday before the [Thanksgiving](/source/Thanksgiving_(United_States)) week in the United States.[8]

### Home media

*Gothika* was released on [VHS](/source/VHS) and [DVD](/source/DVD) by Warner Home Video on March 2, 2004.[9][10] The initial DVD release was available in both [widescreen](/source/Widescreen) and [fullscreen](/source/Fullscreen_(aspect_ratio)) editions.[10] A two-disc special edition DVD, featuring additional documentaries and bonus features, was subsequently released in October 2004.[11] The film was released on [Blu-ray](/source/Blu-ray) by Warner Bros. on September 25, 2007.[12]

## Reception

### Box office

*Gothika* grossed $19.3 million in its opening weekend, ranking at #2 behind *[The Cat in the Hat](/source/The_Cat_in_the_Hat_(2003_film))*.[13][2][14] It went on to gross $59.7 million in the US and $81.9 million from foreign markets for a worldwide total of $141.6 million.[2]

### Critical response

The review aggregator site [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes) gave *Gothika* a 15% approval rating based on 165 reviews and an average rating of 4.1/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Berry's acting talents can't save *Gothika* from its preposterous plot and bad dialogue."[15] On [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic), the film has a score of 38 out of 100 based on 36 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[16] Audiences polled by [CinemaScore](/source/CinemaScore) gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.[17]

A more positive review came from [Roger Ebert](/source/Roger_Ebert) of *The Chicago Sun-Times*, who gave the film 3 out of 4 stars. He wrote that "the plot is preposterous" but nonetheless felt that stylish direction and Berry's performance made *Gothika* enjoyable on its own "lurid" terms: "The casting of Halle Berry is useful to the movie because she evokes a vulnerable quality that triggers our concern. [Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock) might have wanted to work with her. He didn't cast so much for acting ability as for an innate quality."[18]

[A. O. Scott](/source/A._O._Scott) of *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* praised the film's atmosphere and cinematography, but felt the screenplays was inconsistent, noting that "ghost-story clichés collide with the serial-killer clichés, and the women-behind-bars clichés give way to the wronged-women-seeking revenge clichés, the movie proves to be both too much and not enough: yet another slick, empty package of ersatz entertainment."[19] Adam Smith of *[Empire](/source/Empire_(magazine))* awarded the film two out of five stars, writing: "Sebastian Gutierrez's over-cooked screenplay provides director Kassovitz with more than enough trope to hang himself, serving up every cliche from endless thunderstorms and creepy asylums to flickering strip-lights and that 'spooky' backwards sound effect that no hackneyed horror these days is ever without, before applying the tin lid with a 'twist' ending more carefully signposted than wet floors in an orthopaedic ward."[20]

### Awards and nominations

Institution Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. Black Reel Awards 2004 Outstanding Actress Halle Berry Nominated [21] Golden Trailer Awards 2004 Best Horror/Thriller Gothika Nominated [22] MTV Movie Awards 2004 Best Female Performance Halle Berry Nominated [23] NAACP Image Awards 2004 Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Nominated [22] Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Charles S. Dutton Nominated Teen Choice Awards 2004 Choice Movie Actress – Drama/Action Adventure Halle Berry Won [24] Choice Movie – Thriller Gothika Nominated

## See also

- [List of ghost films](/source/List_of_ghost_films)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Gothika"](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/62750-GOTHIKA?cxt=filmography). *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)*. [American Film Institute](/source/American_Film_Institute).{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mojo_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mojo_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-mojo_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-mojo_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-mojo_2-4) [*Gothika*](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gothika.htm) at [Box Office Mojo](/source/Box_Office_Mojo)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ign_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ign_3-1) Otto, Jeff (November 19, 2003). ["IGN Interviews Gothika Director Mathieu Kassovitz and Stars Halle Berry and Robert Downey, Jr"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/19/ign-interviews-gothika-director-mathieu-kassovitz-and-stars-halle-berry-and-robert-downey-jr). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121025200106/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/19/ign-interviews-gothika-director-mathieu-kassovitz-and-stars-halle-berry-and-robert-downey-jr) from the original on October 25, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ks_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ks_4-1) Silson-Combs, Lana (November 21, 2003). ["Halle Berry talks about fame, filming of 'Gothika'"](https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/11-21/323870_halle_berry_talks_about_fame__f.html). *[Kitsap Sun](/source/Kitsap_Sun)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210529042239/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2003/11-21/323870_halle_berry_talks_about_fame__f.html) from the original on May 29, 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ie_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ie_5-1) ["Gothika filming continues without Berry"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30099519.html). *[Irish Examiner](/source/Irish_Examiner)*. May 19, 2003. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210529042740/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30099519.html) from the original on May 29, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Film review 'Gothika'"](https://www.piratemedia1.com/archives/article_a4bc86b0-359a-5a02-8af0-b83d0eebc68f.html). *[Pirate Media 1](/source/WDLX)*. December 4, 2003.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Gothika (2003)"](http://www.soundtrackinfo.com/OST/gothika/). soundtrackinfo.com. Retrieved May 25, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Thanksgiving (All Movies, 5-Day)"](https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/domestic/all-movies/holiday-5-day-all-movies/thanksgiving). *[The Numbers](/source/The_Numbers_(website))*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Patrizio, Andy (February 3, 2004). ["Gothika on March 23"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/02/03/gothika-on-march-23). IGN. Retrieved May 16, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wr_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wr_10-1) ["Gothika"](https://widescreenreview.com/dvd_detail.php?recid=12699). *Widescreen Review* (28). May 2004. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210529043417/https://widescreenreview.com/dvd_detail.php?recid=12699) from the original on May 29, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [""Gothika Two-Disc Special Edition" DVD From Warner Home Video"](https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cgothika-two-disc-special-edition%E2%80%9D-dvd-warner-home-video). *[Warner Bros.](/source/Warner_Bros.)* July 19, 2004. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200807212916/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/%E2%80%9Cgothika-two-disc-special-edition%E2%80%9D-dvd-warner-home-video) from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bracke, Peter (September 30, 2007). ["Gothika Blu-ray Review"](https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/283/gothika.html). *High-Def Digest*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201128170638/https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/283/gothika.html) from the original on November 28, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["'Cat' on top"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-cat-on-top/114820626/). [The News & Observer](/source/The_News_%26_Observer). November 26, 2003. p. 14. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260516223506/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-cat-on-top/114820626/) from the original on May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Sulewski, Reagen. ["Weekend Forecast for November 21-23, 2003"](http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/sulewski/forecast112103.asp). *Box Office Prophets*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Gothika (2003)"](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gothika). *[Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)*. Retrieved March 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Gothika Reviews"](http://www.metacritic.com/movie/gothika). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CinemaScore_17-0)** ["CinemaScore"](https://m.cinemascore.com). *cinemascore.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [Ebert, Roger](/source/Roger_Ebert) (November 21, 2003). ["Gothika Movie Review & Film Summary (2003)"](http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gothika-2003). *[Chicago Sun-Times](/source/Chicago_Sun-Times)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171208192216/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gothika-2003) from the original on December 8, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [Scott, A. O.](/source/A._O._Scott) (November 21, 2003). ["FILM REVIEW; If You See a Roadside Ghost Afire, It's Best to Keep Right on Driving"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250222194745/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/21/movies/film-review-if-you-see-a-roadside-ghost-afire-it-s-best-to-keep-right-on-driving.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/21/movies/film-review-if-you-see-a-roadside-ghost-afire-it-s-best-to-keep-right-on-driving.html) on February 22, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Smith, Adam (2004). ["Gothika Review"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211008123939/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gothika-review/). *[Empire](/source/Empire_(magazine))*. Archived from [the original](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/gothika-review/) on October 8, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Halle Berry"](https://www.blackreelawards.com/bruised_berry-emerging-director). *[Black Reel Awards](/source/Black_Reel_Awards)*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-TVG_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-TVG_22-1) ["Gothika"](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/gothika/2030140666/). *[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)*.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Green, Willow (April 22, 2004). ["MTV Movie Award Nominations 2004"](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/mtv-movie-award-nominations-2004/). *[Empire](/source/Empire_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231123052220/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/mtv-movie-award-nominations-2004/) from the original on November 23, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Teen Choice Awards 2004"](https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/teen-choice-awards-2004/). *[CBS News](/source/CBS_News)*. August 9, 2004. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20241130050241/https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/teen-choice-awards-2004/) from the original on November 30, 2024.

## External links

- [*Gothika*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348836/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

- [*Gothika*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/537003/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived)

- [*Gothika*](https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=gothika.htm) at [Box Office Mojo](/source/Box_Office_Mojo)

- [*Gothika*](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gothika) at [Rotten Tomatoes](/source/Rotten_Tomatoes)

- *[Gothika](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gothika)* at [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)

v t e Films directed by Mathieu Kassovitz Fierrot le pou (1990, short) Cauchemar Blanc (1991, short) Métisse / Café au lait (1993) La haine / Hate (1995) Assassin(s) (1997) The Crimson Rivers (2000) Gothika (2003) Babylon A.D. (2008) Rebellion (2011)

v t e Dark Castle Entertainment Films House on Haunted Hill (1999) Thirteen Ghosts (2001) Ghost Ship (2002) Gothika (2003) House of Wax (2005) The Reaping (2007) Return to House on Haunted Hill (2007) RocknRolla (2008) The Hills Run Red (2009) Orphan (2009) Whiteout (2009) Ninja Assassin (2009) The Losers (2010) Splice (2010) Unknown (2011) The Apparition (2012) The Factory (2012) Bullet to the Head (2012) Getaway (2013) Suburbicon (2017) Seance (2021) Orphan: First Kill (2022) Old Guy (2024) Shell (2024) Last Breath (2025) Orphans (TBA) Founders Joel Silver Robert Zemeckis Gilbert Adler Other William Castle Susan Downey Warner Bros. Pictures StudioCanal Silver Pictures

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gothika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothika) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothika?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.