The Lady in the Water was actually a very good film that was woefully mismarketed.
People went in expecting a horror film, which was how it was represented in trailers and advertisements, but was not remotely the premise of the film.
I guess this is why I thought it sucked so bad. It seemed like a good horror film, but you're smack dabbed with... you know, that. It just seemed like a big mindfuck when they introduce that dog thing made of grass. I couldn't take it seriously anymore. Then again I was in the 8th grade when I've watched it so maybe if I watched it now it'd be different... maybe.