Didn't expect a talented guy like Kassovitz to make just another pretentious Hollywood piece of crap. That's what 'Gothika' is. It pretends to be one of those psychological horror/thrillers that makes you think (yeah right!). It's got all those silly twists and wannabe 'jump' moments. The cast is wasted. Halle Berry hams in several sequences but otherwise she's okay. She screams a lot. Penelope Cruz does well with her lack-of-substance role and Robert Downey Jr. is wasted. The ending (which brings the level towards further crap) suggests another horrible sequel. Special effects are alright and the background score just adds to the pretense. However the one thing I liked is the cinematography. The long quick shots were quite impressive. Given the concept, Kassovitz could have made a very engaging film. However, it's a pity that he made it for the that section of Hollywood fans who like pretentious crap.