Rating:

Eerie.

OK, truth be told, it wasn‘t some sixth sense that tipped me off, but the movie‘s trailer. From watching it, I knew it starred Sandra Bullock as a woman who thinks her husband has been killed in an accident, but when she wakes up later he‘s still around and kicking. Then she keeps getting jerked around, back and forth - he‘s dead, he‘s alive, he‘s dead. Meanwhile, she discovers that he was probably cheating on her. So, even if she can ultimately save him, should she?

It seemed like a dumb premise, with little chance of a satisfying conclusion - and, sure enough, the film lives up, or down, to its potential. In fact, it‘s even worse than I imagined, thanks to a climax so mind-numbingly bad it will leave you slack-jawed. (Well, to be honest, it had me laughing out loud - though that‘s not the intended effect, either.)

Bullock plays Linda Hanson, who lives in a comfy suburban home with hard-working hubby Jim (Julian McMahon) and their two young daughters. One day Linda answers the door to find a police officer on the doorstep with some bad news: Jim has been killed in a car accident.

Linda, naturally, is stunned and heartbroken. She breaks the bad news to the kids. Her mother (Kate Nelligan) comes over to help out. Linda finally goes to bed.

And when she wakes up, mom‘s gone and there‘s a noise downstairs. She slowly descends the stairs, walks into the kitchen and ... there‘s Jim and the kids, acting as if nothing has happened!

What the heck?

What follows is kind of like “Groundhog Day,” only without Bill Murray, a groundhog or any (intentional) laughs. Of course, “Premonition” isn‘t intended as a comedy; it seems to be trying to be a supernatural thriller, with a bittersweet love story on the order of “Ghost” thrown in. Oh, and it‘s also a message movie, with a priest telling Linda that “Every day we‘re alive can be a miracle” and “It‘s never too late to realize what‘s important in your life (and) to fight for it.”

Thanks for the tips. Next time, though, could we get them in a better movie?

Tim Miller is the Times' entertainment editor. He can be reached at 508-862-1140 or tmiller@capecodonline.com

RATING SCALE: Four stars (best) to bomb (worst)
RATING: R (for some sexuality/nudity)
RUNNING TIME: 137 minutes