I'm not sure where the name Gothika came from, but it's just right. It has the feel of something Hitchcock might have done, crossed with the current crop of television crime dramas, which seem to be obsessed with uncovering gruesome, unspeakable crimes. There's a lot of sneaking around in the dark, startling imagery, and cold, gothic sets. The film is anchored by Halle Berry in the title role, who carries us through the rough spots. She has a charming manner about her, and a vulnerabile determination, that compels our involvement. Without Berry, it's easy to see how this film might have fallen apart. The material is shallow and nothing we haven't seen before, but its execution is technically accomplished enough to make it a fun if disposable genre piece.