Walter Salles has always produced stimulating films, witness "The Motorcycle Diaries," and thus we have no reason to suspect that his latest, "Dark Water," a thriller opening this Friday, is a cheesy horror film. That of course doesn't change that the plot involves a mother separated from her daughter's father and living in a dilapidated apartment, noticing that dark water is dripping down from everywhere and so going on a relentless search for the source of the horror.

The lead is played by Jennifer Conelly and the daughter by Ariel Gade. At a recent screening, Conelly carried Gade, who though young, is decidedly beyond the carrying stage. We understand that in the film, Ariel's character has communications with the beyond. Nothing can be scarier than Bush running the country and yet the film could be worth seeing. (By Scott Rose)