Reel Critics

Van Novack

Following the mega success of “The Sixth Sense,” Hollywood has

rediscovered the supernatural thriller film and turned out several

examples of this genre recently. Most often, such efforts are pale

imitations of the original. This is certainly true of the shamelessly

manipulative and contrived “Dragonfly.”

Dr. Joe Darrow (Kevin Costner) is coming unglued after the death of

his wife Dr. Emily Darrow (Susanna Thompson), a noted pediatric

oncologist. Emily, pregnant at the time, died in Venezuela while on a

mission of mercy. Joe’s increasingly erratic behavior is threatening his

position as head of emergency services at the same Chicago hospital where

Emily once worked.

Urged by friends to move on with his life, Joe starts the inevitable

process of packing up Emily’s belongings. However, before he can complete

this task he starts receiving increasingly disturbing and obvious

communications from his dead wife.

Some of the sequences in “Dragonfly” are genuinely spooky,

particularly the scenes occurring in the Joe’s dark vintage home. The

entire film is slickly done and well acted. Costner will not experience

the sort of career boost Bruce Willis received from his work in “The

Sixth Sense.” Nonetheless, he is certainly credible here and turns in a

workmanlike performance.

There are no less than three screenplay credits for “Dragonfly” and it

seems each writer added their complete inventory of emotional hooks. The

film moves along at a respectable clip under the direction of Tom Shadyac

and some of the photography and settings are notable. Ultimately, this

slick professionalism only adds to the feeling of manipulation.

Others have done this type of film before and done it much better.If

you have any interest in seeing “Dragonfly” at all, I would suggest

waiting until it is released on video.

* VAN NOVACK, 48, is the director of institutional research at Cal

State Long Beach.