Lady in the Water

Bryce Dallas Howard (left) and Paul Giamatti in Lady in the Water.

Herald rating: * * *

M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water is based on a fable-like bedtime story that supernatural thriller director (The Sixth Sense, The Village) made up for his children.

Watching this mythical film, you'll find yourself anticipating one of the director's trademark clever twists, or at least some suspense, but it disappoints. Maybe Shyamalan (who worked as producer, writer and director, and actor on the film) was distracted by having to direct himself in a supporting role, and failed to realise that this bedtime story was unfolding in an underwhelming and slow manner. Perhaps proving that Disney, who refused to make this film, might have made the right decision.

The one thing Shyamalan got right was the casting. Paul Giamatti (Sideways) easily steps into the role of Cleveland, a stuttering, depressed apartment block manager who discovers an otherworldly creature called Story (the ethereal Dallas Howard, daughter of Ron Howard) in the apartment swimming pool.

Story is a "narf", a creature from the watery Blue World, whose job is to help man find his purpose in life. Story's mission is to meet one of the apartment dwellers, a writer who she must encourage to complete his book, as it is destined to become hugely influential. Amusingly, Shyamalan egotistically cast himself in the role of the soon to be great writer.

Cleveland becomes responsible for returning Story to her Blue World, and must find within the eccentric apartment dwellers the people required to make this happen, while protecting her from dark forces trying to prevent her departure.

Shyamalan doesn't quite nail the mix of fantasy alongside the mundane lives of the ordinary characters and struggles to cast his usual spell over the audience. Although the ideas in this fable have the potential to be more interesting than the average Hollywood blockbuster, the film doesn't quite sit right. The world he creates is just too implausible and contrived for an adult audience.

And for kids, while the simplicity of this story with underwater beings makes for an endearing children's tale, the inclusion of nightmare-inducing creatures and harsh, out of place characters (such as the nasty, cynical film reviewer) means they may struggle with this tale, too.

Verdict: An unconvincing myth that lacks the Shyamalan magic

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Freddy Rodriguez, M. Night Shyamalan
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Running time: 110 mins
Rating: PG, contains supernatural themes
Screening: Village, Hoyts, Berkeley