The first time I watched this movie, I was immediately intrigued, perhaps even mesmerized, though I also struggled to grasp the plot—the story felt difficult to follow. Now I understand that director Mariano Baino wasn’t aiming for a conventional narrative structure. The film gave me the impression of someone recording another person's nightmare and turning it into a movie, with some editing afterward. There are inconsistencies in the storyline, and events often feel disjointed or hard to explain. Story coherence isn't this film's strongest point; it reminded me of other Italian horror films by directors like Lucio Fulci or Michele Soavi, which prioritize striking imagery and horror elements over a consistent plot. The fact that Baino doesn’t focus on crafting a polished narrative is easily forgiven, even appreciated, because he creates such an unsettling, dreamlike atmosphere—one where illogical situations become easier to accept. In "Dark Waters," a young English woman named Elizabeth travels to a remote Russian island after discovering her recently deceased father had been sending money to a convent there. Simultaneously, she’s receiving letters from a friend, Theresa, who also lives at the convent (presumably intending to become a nun). In these letters, Theresa suggests that she has a special connection with the convent, prompting Elizabeth's visit. Theresa is brutally murdered by a nun after finding a hidden amulet. Upon her arrival, Elizabeth is told that Theresa simply left without explanation. The mother superior assigns a young nun named Sarah to be Elizabeth’s guide during her stay. After settling in, Elizabeth begins experiencing visions related to her past and dreams about the convent and herself as a child. At one point, she tells Sarah that she wasn't born in England but on the island itself, though she has no memory of her early years. Through dreams and flashbacks, the mysteries surrounding Elizabeth’s life gradually surface, revealing that her connection with the island stretches back to those forgotten childhood years. "Dark Waters" possesses a distinct Lovecraftian quality, which isn't accidental since it was originally intended as an adaptation of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," featuring a town populated by mutants rather than evil nuns and creepy villagers. Although the story changed due to budget limitations, the Lovecraftian elements remain—such as the inescapable nature of fate. Elizabeth finds herself traveling to a secluded location with unclear reasons for her journey, but she goes anyway because it’s her destiny to uncover the truth about herself and those missing years. Her presence on the island triggers chaos and events that are destined to occur. Another Lovecraftian element is questionable family history; in Lovecraft's stories, relatives of main characters are often depicted as abnormal—a theme present here as well. Throughout the film, Elizabeth reads passages from ancient books found in the convent’s library, which echo Lovecraft’s writing, like "She who was, and is not, and yet is." The apocalyptic tone of “Dark Waters” also mirrors Lovecraft's tales, where humans are portrayed as insignificant beings destined to succumb to monstrous creatures from another realm. Although the acting is rather unremarkable and the dialogue feels artificial, this actually contributes to the film’s dreamlike, surreal atmosphere. I’m not sure if that was intentional; the stiff dialogue and monotonous delivery are common in co-productions where actors speak English as a second language, leading to awkward dubbing. The cinematography and locations are exceptional—key reasons why the imagery feels like it's been pulled from someone else's nightmare. The lighting and shadows create an eerie effect, making the convent and even the nuns seem to materialize out of nowhere. Igor Clark’s music is also very fitting, with a dark pipe organ melody that I found old-fashioned and Gothic. I suspect I’ll need to watch this film again to fully appreciate it; “Dark Waters” seems like one of those stories that reveals more with each viewing, likely containing many details that aren't immediately apparent.

Source on TMDB