Lady in the Water (2006)

Lady in the Water is a 2006 American fantasy psychological thriller film written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard. The film's plot concerns the superintendent of a Philadelphia apartment complex who discovers a young woman in the swimming pool. Gradually, he and his neighbors learn she is a water nymph (or Narf) whose life is in danger from a vicious, wolf-like, mystical creature called a Scrunt that tries to keep her from returning to her watery "blue world". This is Shyamalan's first movie in which he played a significant role as one of the supporting actors.

The film received a mostly negative response from critics, with criticism revolving around the self-indulgence with which Shyamalan cast himself in the film, the lack of consistency, and the film’s characterization.[3][4] The film was also a financial disappointment grossing $72 million against a $70 million production budget.