La revanche de l'au-delà

What a strange and mesmerizing film. A sense of dread takes over from the opening scene and never lets go. The performances are top notch. Christopher Reeve, never one of my favorites, took me completely by surprise. He's never been as complex or bold, he plays the ambiguity of his character with a panache worthy of James Mason. Marg Helgenberger is heart breaking. The director uses visual devices to create the uneasiness of the story making the experience utterly unnerving. Cec Verrel, Fiounula Flannagan, Conor O'Farrel and Jim Jarrett give also, original, entertaining, powerful performances. It is unusual to find something so stylish on television.

This story blows away half of the ghost stories on the big screen. Death Dreams is a book as well as a movie and both follow each other quite closely. It is hard for me to think that any fan of the ghost story genre would not have an interest in this. It is a superbly written, very unusual and intense story which probably would have done well on the big screen too.

The movie's tough to watch(as is the book to read) because of the subject matter but it does make me wonder why there's so many bad horrors that get released when there are material like this around.This story's got intensity, great talent in the acting department, twists and turns and genuine surprises and can be a bit frightening as well as intense. My thoughts are-if one likes a really engrossing psychological thriller/ghost story they should see this AND read the book.

Pain and fear reflected in beautiful, dramatic close ups reminded me of some of the best Italian cinema of the 60's and 70's and yet the movie is unmistakable American. The seductive unpredictable style contributes to a constant state of dread. Marg Helgenberger gives a walloping performance of naked emotions without ever going over the top. Almost Italian yes but seasoned in Midwestern roots. Christopher Reeve is an astonishing surprise. The nuances of his villain, at least for three quarters of the film, are so beautifully drawn that I wonder why this film is not better known. "Death Dreams" subscribes to the smarter kind of Gothic thriller. Devoid of cheap shots and dressed up in witty dialogue and an elegant leisurely pace. Fionnula Flanagan and a titillating score complete this unexpected American dish sprinkled with exquisite Italian flavors.

That's why I couldn't find it. The Italian title of "Death Dreams" is (translated) "The Butterfly In The Lake" - Images of the anguishing story of death and life after death kept coming back to me without being able to put a name to those images. I remembered Christopher Reeve in a rather unusual against type kind of role - some consider it one of his best performances and I agree - But it is Marg Helgenberger (C.S.I) that dominates the film. The camera travels through her beautiful face and she's always compelling. She is a widow with a young daughter trying to rebuild her life with her new, wealthy husband (Reeve). We meet them during their first wedding anniversary party and something tell us that dark clouds are moving towards this, potentially, happy nest. I don't know how to explain it but a sense of dread took over me as if I was in a dream I couldn't control. And yet, everything looks so normal. The ending felt a bit rushed, dislocating, that's why I give it an 8 out of 10.

This is a pretty good made for TV film. It's a ghost story of a woman, Christa, who married George and he adopted his wife's daughter, Jennie, (from a previous marriage) and the daughter drowns. After Jennie drowns, Christa sees Jennie's photo on a billboard and has a car wreck - killing her best friend in the car with her. Christa is under the care of a few psychiatrists for awhile. Christa starts to see her daughter more often, George wants to get Christa some additional mental health help. Another friend of Christa tells her of a psychiatrist who also believes in spirits and bids Christa to go see her. Christa and the physic psychiatrist ends up pressing charges of murder of Jennie against George - a courtroom drama follows. The questions are: Is Christa simply mentally unbalanced due to the loss of her daughter, friend and mother? Did George really kill Jennie or is he being framed?

I rather liked the film. It's something a little different than other ghost stories - and there isn't much 'horror' in the film. The film is a crime-thriller drama and not labeled as horror but easily fits into the paranormal horror genre.

Christopher Reeve is great in this one -great to see him in other projects. (R. I. P. Christopher - miss you). Marg Helgenberger was super good as well. In fact, the entire cast does a great job.

Worth watching if you like ghost stories and/or crime-thrillers.

7/10.