Red Lights

The promising premise of this psychological thriller involves debunking the supernatural—namely, the phony psychics, ghost whisperers, and faith healers who are able to convince the gullible public that they possess special powers that allow them to access the ephemeral spiritual world. Veteran paranormal researchers Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy) discredit these charlatans by detecting what Matheson calls “red lights,” the subtle subterfuges that lurk behind every staged occurrence. But when renowned, Uri Geller-like, blind psychic Simon Silver (Robert De Niro) emerges from a 30-year retirement, Matheson suddenly becomes hesitant, advising her colleague to back off because she fears Silver's capacity for malicious revenge. But Buckley and girlfriend/student Sally (Elizabeth Olsen) are determined to expose the sinister sham. Unfortunately, rather than develop the intriguing concept here, writer-director Rodrigo Cortés instead serves up contrived chattering and cheap, schlocky, gimmicky scares (even ripping off Brian De Palma's classic Carrie during the ridiculously convoluted climax). Not recommended. (S Granger)