Lady In The Water
Fairytale style story begins with an animated sequence introducing the film's "ancient myths", then follows Cleveland Heep (great name, played by the brilliant Giamatti), superintendent of The Cove apartment complex. The lady in question, Story (Howard), is a "Narf" - a sea nymph from "The Blue World" who has taken up residence in the swimming pool of the Cove apartments. Cleveland discovers Story and takes it upon himself to help the nymph fulfill her mission and return home, a task that requires the aid of various tenants. Throughout, Story is in danger of attack by another "Blue World" visitor, the "Scrunt", a werewolf-like creature thing.
- Director:
- M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village)
- Writer:
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Cast:
- Paul GiamattiBryce Dallas HowardJeffrey WrightBob BalabanSarita ChoudhuryCindy CheungBill IrwinM. Night Shyamalan
Reviews & comments
Variety
pressA ponderous, self-indulgent bedtime tale. Awkwardly positioned, this gloomy thic fantasy falls well short of horror... Vindication is rarely as swift or complete as that likely awaiting the Disney execs who passed on M. Night Shyamalan's latest effort "Lady in the Water." After Disney balked, the director carted the project to Burbank neighbor Warner Bros., then lambasted his former studio for a lack of vision in a tie-in, tell-some book. Disney's misgivings were well founded, as Shyamalan has followed "The Village" with another disappointment...
The Washington Post
pressIf the ultimate goal is entertainment, then it enthusiastically rises to the task. In a movie laden with symbolism, shamanism and mythic, Shyamalan never forgets to have fun...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressHas the strengths and weaknesses of a one-man show... That a movie so riddled with relentless plot explanation can work as well as this one does comes as a revelation...
Hollywood Reporter
pressShyamalan does project genuine menace and suspense into this mundane location, especially in nighttime scenes. But the magic that would transport you from reality into fantasy is missing...
Christchurch Press
pressUtterly lacking in the thrills and chills that Shyamalan made his name with, this feeble fable may prove to be his Waterloo, or should that be his Waterworld? Whatever you do this weekend: Don't go into the water...
Variety
pressA ponderous, self-indulgent bedtime tale. Awkwardly positioned, this gloomy thic fantasy falls well short of horror... Vindication is rarely as swift or complete as that likely awaiting the Disney execs who passed on M. Night Shyamalan's latest effort "Lady in the Water." After Disney balked, the director carted the project to Burbank neighbor Warner Bros., then lambasted his former studio for a lack of vision in a tie-in, tell-some book. Disney's misgivings were well founded, as Shyamalan has followed "The Village" with another disappointment...
The Washington Post
pressIf the ultimate goal is entertainment, then it enthusiastically rises to the task. In a movie laden with symbolism, shamanism and mythic, Shyamalan never forgets to have fun...
San Francisco Chronicle
pressHas the strengths and weaknesses of a one-man show... That a movie so riddled with relentless plot explanation can work as well as this one does comes as a revelation...
Hollywood Reporter
pressShyamalan does project genuine menace and suspense into this mundane location, especially in nighttime scenes. But the magic that would transport you from reality into fantasy is missing...
Christchurch Press
pressUtterly lacking in the thrills and chills that Shyamalan made his name with, this feeble fable may prove to be his Waterloo, or should that be his Waterworld? Whatever you do this weekend: Don't go into the water...
Share