- It is probably impossible to discuss André De Toth's Dark Waters without mentioning the thematically similar and vastly superior Gaslight, which came out only six months earlier. Sure, the settings have migrated from London to the Louisiana bayou, and yes, the lead character is haunted by a torpedo attack at sea rather than a parent's murder, but both films are fundamentally about conniving men trying to convince women that they are insane. In this case, the manipulated woman is Leslie Calvin (Merle Oberon), whose Aunt Emily (Fay Bainter) and Uncle Norbert (John Qualen) are eager to have Leslie convalesce at their plantation. Suspicious hangers-on Mr. Sydney (Thomas Mitchell) and Cleeve (Elisha Cook Jr.) should immediately make the audience question whether these people are really even Leslie's relatives at all.
- Too often, Dark Waters veers into the realm of accidental comedy when characters mention drowning or torpedoes in Leslie's presence, setting off yet another of her relatively unconvincing psychological episodes. Trauma or no, this woman faints a lot! Although the esteemed Dr. Grover (Franchot Tone) is nominally there to help, his constant come-ons to his unwell patient are often nearly as creepy as the behaviors of the film's intended villains. As for the cast, Oberon is fine (as long as you don't think about Ingrid Bergman), Mitchell is engaging enough, Bainter is good, and Elisha Cook Jr. is a welcome addition to any ensemble. The film's direction is competent (as long as you don't think about George Cuckor) and its lighting gothically dim. When Dark Waters resorts to dimming the lights in Leslie's room, though, the bad imitation officially becomes a cheap knockoff.
