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Sandra Bullock, Julian McMahon, Nia Long, Kate Nelligan, Amber Valletta, Peter Stormare. Psychological thriller. Written by Bill Kelly. Directed by Mennan Yapo.

FILM SYNOPSIS: A woman’s perfect life is turned upside down when she receives devastating news that her husband had died in a car accident. But the next morning, she wakes up with him by her side, alive and well. She assumes it was a bad dream. But the nightmare is not over. The surreal ordeal keeps happening, with new information given after each terrifying wake-up.

PREVIEW REVIEW: Though a few scenes were clumsily directed, overall, I found myself engrossed by the film’s cleverness. However, there are some silly moments. At one point, for instance, hearing someone in the shower after her husband is dead, she slowly (and I mean slowly) creeps up to the curtain. With the music building to a jolt, she reaches out and nervously pulls it back, revealing the hubby. He turns to her ala Bobby Ewing in TV’s Dallas, as if he’s been home all along. The filmmaker would have been wise to set up this situation differently, as the missing-husband-in-the-shower motif has been spoofed numerous times since the Dallas days.

There are other scenes that didn’t ring true, but generally it is an involving film, with a strong performance by Ms. Bullock. What’s more, there are several positive messages, including the sanctity of marriage and fighting for what’s important in your life. And the film presents a man of God in a positive light (very rare in movies). Disturbed to near madness by the strange occurrences, Ms. Bullock’s character goes to see her priest. She has turned to a man of faith for guidance. What’s more, she takes his advice. The film addresses issues of the need for faith, forgiveness, realizing what’s important and other spiritual aspects. Though the ending is not the happy one we associate with Sandra Bullock movies, it does offer hope and inspiration.

Distributor: Sony