Dragonfly

Despite the rather misleading advertisements and trailers that suggest "Dragonfly" is the next "Sixth Sense," this one isn't the least bit scary. At least not in the traditional sense of the word.

The only way this supernatural snore-fest could give anyone a case of the frights is if they were put to sleep by the movie and had a nightmare. (It's hard to believe that anyone's imagination could come up with something as terrifyingly dull as this film, however.)

"Dragonfly" is hardly the comeback vehicle that star Kevin Costner probably hoped for — and needs. If anything, it may even accelerate his slide into cinematic obscurity.

Costner stars as Joe Darrow, an emergency-room doctor whose life has been turned upside-down. Joe's compassionate physician wife, Emily (Susanna Thompson, from TV's "Once and Again"), is missing and presumed dead after a disastrous bus wreck in Venezuela.

However, instead of mourning, the workaholic doctor throws himself into his work, though his heart's clearly not in it. Consequently, the hospital administrator (Joe Morton) orders him to take time off.

But Joe can't stay away, especially when some of Emily's patients tell him they've been communicating with the recently deceased woman. And when he tells them he believes that Emily may be trying to communicate with him from beyond the grave, Joe's friends begin wondering if he's gone around the bend.

Director Tom Shadyac ("Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," "Patch Adams") has yet to demonstrate skill at any particular genre, and now there's evidence here to suggest that thrillers definitely aren't his forte. The film is relatively scare-free, and there's no sense of suspense whatsoever.

Not that the exposition-heavy script is any help. (Particularly irksome is a device that has the film's supporting characters introduce themselves by revealing their professions — as if they needed to get that out of the way.)

At one point in his career, Costner might have been able to redeem a film like this. But he appears to be sleepwalking his way through this one, while a fine supporting cast is wasted in do-nothing roles (especially Morton, Kathy Bates — and Linda Hunt as a nun who provides Joe with some valuable clues about the mysterious goings-on).

"Dragonfly" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of profanity, brief violence (a violent restraint, as well as a natural disaster), a brief and fairly discreet sex scene and brief gore. Running time: 105 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com