Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- claustrophobic
- melancholic
- late night horror viewing
- rainy day
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film well-crafted and atmospheric, with strong performances and psychological subtext that were undermined by a shortage of genuine scares and suspense.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dahlia's anxiety over abandonment, divorce, and protecting Ceci is inseparable from the apartment's supernatural disturbances.
The constant ceiling drip, mold, leaks, and enclosed apartment corridors create the film's dominant sensory atmosphere.
The haunting and Dahlia's custody fears are structured around children left vulnerable by adult failures.
The American adaptation of Kōji Suzuki's source material uses a polished, atmospheric approach associated with early-2000s Japanese horror remakes.
Films like Dark Water, and why
The Ring
Shared psychological horror, haunted domestic space, maternal anxiety, and slow-building supernatural dread.
The Grudge
Shared claustrophobic haunted-house atmosphere, family trauma, and supernatural forces tied to childhood vulnerability.
The Babadook
Shared domestic psychological horror, isolation, maternal fear, and ambiguity between emotional distress and haunting.
Rosemary's Baby
Shared apartment-based supernatural mystery, oppressive atmosphere, and a woman confronting hidden violence beneath ordinary surroundings.
Movie Details
- Director
- Walter Salles
- Release Date
- 2005-07-08
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (1149)
Cast
- Jennifer Connelly
- John C. Reilly
- Tim Roth
- Dougray Scott
- Pete Postlethwaite
- Ariel Gade
- Camryn Manheim
- Perla Haney-Jardine
- Debra Monk
- Linda Emond
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dark Water about?
- A divorcing mother’s fragile new home becomes a claustrophobic supernatural mystery when unexplained water and sounds expose a child’s buried tragedy.
- What is Dark Water like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dark Water as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dark Water violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Dark Water as mild.
- What did critics think of Dark Water?
- Critics broadly found the film well-crafted and atmospheric, with strong performances and psychological subtext that were undermined by a shortage of genuine scares and suspense.
- Which films are like Dark Water?
- Films with a similar feel include The Ring, The Grudge, The Babadook, and Rosemary's Baby.
- How long is Dark Water?
- Dark Water runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dark Water?
- In United States, Dark Water is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
