Dark Waters (1993)

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

After the death of her father, Elizabeth travels to a remote island, where a convent may hold the secret to the death of her mother. There, she finds nuns who conduct strange rituals in the catacombs beneath the building in an attempt to hold the evil there at bay.One of the first Western films to be shot in the Ukraine following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the birth of this movie was as difficult as Elizabeth's. The sets and locations are otherworldly yet inexpensive, but the political situation was rife with problems, like two coups that took place during the shooting and dubbing of the film.Director Mariano Baino had only directed the short Caruncula before this, but his eye is steady and strong. There's a definite air of looming Lovecraftian dread in this. It looks almost like a Soavi film. And while it has no score, the sound effects more than make up for it.Any film that has squads of nuns burning buildings and killing people - as well as a crucified zombie nun and a savage elder god hidden beneath the world - is worth checking out. It doesn't have the greatest story in the world, but when has that ever stopped our enjoyment of a horror film?

I saw this first on a VHS in the mid 90s. I never understood the film then. Found it to be one helluva weird stuff. Revisited it recently on a pirated DVD after reading many glowing reviews n the cult following. Honestly, now i found it to be meh. As i mentioned in my review of the movie A cure for wellness that cinematography n atmosphere ain't enough to save a bad film. Apart from the imagery like the cathedral's location, the village, the atmosphere of constant raining n murky weather, the weird characters, the leaking cathedral with its dripping water, the cliff n the setting sun, the catacombs with their candles n the enigmatic passageways, there ain't anything good about this film. In fact, there is no music, very few dialogues n the story is really confusing. Strange things seems to happen for no reason. The actress was attractive though.

I had never heard of the Italian director Baino before this movie. It seems to me that this pretty much is his one and only full length feature film. The film is actually Russian-Italian-British co-production so it's actually not right to classify it as an Italian film. It of course resembles many old Italian horror movies from the past and that was the only reason i ever chose to watch it as i kind of knew what to expect.The movie is like a combination of Fulci and Soavi and sometimes even Argento but sadly its worst problem is with the pacing and obvious need for a plot, good script and better actors. All of those elements being more or less strongly on the average side, the movie still works like an effective horror should. I felt kind of claustrophobic after the film, just like like with some films directed by Soavi and Fulci.I can understand incoherency and allegory to some level but i got lost with this movie. It really is more of an art movie than anything else.I can recommend this movie for those who like truly bizarre horror and for those who like old Italian horror movies. Those who are easily offended shouldn't watch the film.It's surprising that Baino's first movie is this good and it's quite a shame that he hasn't got to make more films in his career. Maybe films of this kind don't get much of funding in these days and the other factor might just be the crumbling Italian cinema. They've seen their better days.

A brave first feature effort, apparently made against much adversity. Well shot and extremely good looking, it seems however that Mr Baino was so in love with his images he remained focused on them just a little too long. Consequently this Lovecraft inspired tale set in a labyrinthine convent, moves at a very slow pace, and not to anywhere in particular at that. Some fine moments, nevertheless and much gory goings on with the most terrifying soundtrack of weeping children. Weshall hear more from this director and hopefully next time he will get himself a decent script writer, or at least a script writer!