Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Writer: Francis Ford Coppola (Screenplay)
Starring: Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning, Ben Chaplin, Joanne Whalley, David Paymer, Anthony Fusco, Alden Ehrenreich
Plot: A writer with a declining career arrives in a small town as part of his book tour and gets caught up in a murder mystery involving a young girl. That night in a dream, he is approached by a mysterious young ghost named V. He’s unsure of her connection to the murder in the town, but is grateful for the story being handed to him. Ultimately he is led to the truth of the story, surprised to find that the ending has more to do with his own life than he could ever have anticipated.
Verdict: No Idea
Story: I really not sure what happened here, I will go through what I thought but it might be wrong. We have the struggling writer coming to a small town for book signing in a hardware store. The Sheriff taking an interest in him because he has own story he wants to tell called ‘Vampire Executions’. Hall the writer is interested but this is where it gets confusing. We hear ideas from the Sheriff but nearly all the story unfolds during dream sequences the Hall has with a ghost girl asking for help. Hall writes a story about his dreams but we are left to try and figure out what was real and what is in his head. It really gets confusing and leads you in all sorts of directions. (4/10)
Actor Review
Val Kilmer: Hall Baltimore struggling writer who gets caught up in a mystery in a small town, which could give him the newest idea to help resurrect his career. Seems to spend half the film in dream sequences talking to a ghost. Val pretty much mails in the performance here, easily forgettable. (3/10)
Bruce Dern: Sheriff Bobby LaGrange dreams of turning a story into a novel and wants Hall’s help to do so. He is a seasoned sheriff who has seen it all but might be hiding a secret I am not sure if he was though. Average performance in a film that doesn’t get the best out of anyone really. (4/10)
Elle Fanning: V. the mysterious ghost girl haunting the dreams of Hall, trying to tell the story of her death I think. Elle gives the best performance as the ghost and girl who tried to stop a tragic event. (6/10)
Ben Chaplin: Poe as in Edgar Allen Poe who guides Hall through his dreams, I think it was because Hall loved his work so made him up. He does a solid job with a character that seems out of place. (6/10)
Anthony Fusco: Pastor Allan Floyd leader of a small group who he is trying to keep everyone on the right path but when he fears he can’t he goes too far to stop anything happening. Average performance that really needed more screen time. (6/10)
Director Review: Francis Ford Coppola – He gave us the Godfather and now he gives us this, what happened to him? (2/10)
Horror: No scares, mainly tries to be a ghost investigation film. (3/10)
Thriller: Too confusing to pull anyone in enough. (3/10)
Settings: Has a few good settings but doesn’t really work well enough. (4/10)
Suggestion: I think this is one to miss it is confusing and also not very interesting. (Avoid)
Best Part: Dream sequences have elements of creepiness.
Worst Part: Too confusing.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $7 million
Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
Overall: Too Slow, Too Confusing
Rating 
