Oh the fear and the horror, the intrigue and the suspense. Where were they?
Like a poor and painfully stretched episode of the X files, Dragonfly lurches from one predictable twist to another led by the charmless Costner. Is it an overdose of Botox that has done this to the once lauded actor? Is it design that causes the most emotionless 'performance' since 'Waterworld'? Or is it a wooden actor attempting to stiffen his ‘craft’ further in order to imitate the glory of ‘The Sixth Sense’. Sadly it is so far from achieving this, that the film becomes a parody of itself.
A quick synopsis of the film: Costner's philanthropic doctor wife is missing presumed dead in the South American Jungle, whilst selflessly putting her medical degree to use in one of the poorest areas of the world. The cruel hand of fate knocked her and the rest of her bus party into the swirling depths of (possibly) the Amazon.
Selfish
and wooden her husband Costner, also a doctor, is left alone in the US to pine for her, and seems to not be coping too well with death. But even worse than losing his heavily pregnant wife (there's a rather unsubtle clue to a twist there), he seems haunted by her at every turn. Surely the trauma would send anyone a little loopy without sufficient mourning time, but could there be something else to it?
Her fondness for the dragonfly gives the film it’s title, so it’s hardly surprising when her favourite insect keeps popping up, wait for it, OUT OF SEASON. Apparently she saw the dragonfly as a symbol of her, because she had a birthmark that looked a bit like one. Granted she's a totally rubbish ghost. He sees dragonflies everywhere, which is freaky enough but when the ratty parrot greets her in the night, that's when the terrible fear begins!!
The terminally ill kids at the hospital claim she talks to them every time they die and are resuscitated. She’s calling to her husband, but she gives very little away This film drags and drags, obviously no-one believes him, and obviously he's vindicated in the end, but by the end you don't care, you just need it to stop. The children draw wiggly crosses and tell him she’s calling for him. The wiggly cross turns out to be the topographic symbol for a waterfall. Maybe just maybe, he needs to find the waterfall where she disappeared.
The twist is AWFUL, and because it’s so obvious and you’re surely not going to watch it, I have no qualms about telling you. Finally after what seems like months of wondering, Costner acts on his clue and seeks her out. He makes it to the site of her death, and dives into the river to board the partly submerged bus she’s calling him to. Now I would have loved to have seen her rise up and pull him down with her. But instead he sees her fate through her eyes. She’s not dead, she was rescued by the natives. Hooray thinks Kev, and makes his way to the protected tribe. Yes they’ve seen her, but she died soon after. But wait, what’s that noise? Why it’s the sound of a little white baby gurgling, and what’s that on it’s peachy flesh, why it looks like…but it couldn’t be…could it...could it be…a dragonfly? I'd like to see him explaining that one to immigration.
Every aspect of this film is overdone, there are about 50% more dragonfly references than are needed, damnit we know about the dragonflies, it's called dragonfly! I'd say it's unbelievable but that's not strong enough. Maybe laughable is nearer the mark. The idea that from beyond the grave a woman can roll dragonfly themed paperweights across the floor and inspire the conversation of the newly dead, but can't think of a better clue to give than a wiggly cross is annoying, especially if as much was at stake as we are asked to believe.
A good horror film will leave you believing that your dolls really could attack you, or you could get trapped in the TV, or even that your murderer wants to know your favourite scary movie. But this film left me cold, not with the fear I was promised but with sheer indifference and a bordering level of irritation. The inordinate amount of dragonflies and references thereof drove me almost mad with impatience. The way the audience is over prepared for what turns out to be a total anticlimax, left me feeling patronised and, ultimately, robbed.
It could have been an interesting and intelligent film, and it's worth watching if only to see how easy it is to get film making so horribly wrong. Gets one star because I can't give none. It truly made me appreciate all the good and brilliant films I have seen over the years. Even 'Jeepers Creepers' was better than this tripe. For anyone considering watching this I say "NO, NO, NO!"
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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![Dragonfly [DVD] [2001]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78519657.jpg "Dragonfly [DVD] [2001]")
Mar 10th, 2003
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