The premise of this film is excellent, an obituary columnist for a local newspaper reading obituaries on her PC before the deaths occur, then ultimately reading her own. Reminds one of Mark Twain's comment after reading his own obituary in a newspaper, "The report of my death has been highly exaggerated." Unfortunately this made-for-TV flick does not develop the idea creatively and the viewer ends up with a routine murder mystery full of plot holes and psycho-babble. And it's not even a good whodunit. The killer can be identified early on as a result of quite obvious clues; plus the red herrings are just as easy to pick out. The viewer should be aware, however, that the opening sequence inside a mental institution is crucial for the story; so don't miss it.
The story concerns an obituary reporter for the Tribune, Denise Wilcox (Josie Bissett), with a very unsettling childhood. She is highly ambitious but her steps for advancement are blocked when the old editor expires and the new boss places Denise's ex-lover, Simon Castillo (Grant Nickalls), in the key staff position she was seeking. Her life becomes more complicated when she stumbles upon a dead body while jogging through the woods. The name of the murdered woman had appeared to her in a newspaper earlier but she is unable to verify this.
As the late Red Buttons used to say, "Strange things are happening." Other victims' names begin showing up on Denise's computer screen before they are killed. She begins to think that her old mental illness is returning. Her fears are assuaged by a young assistant, Luke (Craig Olejnik), who obviously has a crush on her. She begins to consult with a Gothic person who runs a Gothic revival shop about a strange sign that appeared as graffiti on a wall near where the first body was found, a sign that has of late been part of a recurring nightmare. It is a symbol of a Hindu goddess for both creation and destruction; this only complicates the situation. There are a few thrills toward the end when Denise's own name pops up on her computer and she is marked for death.
Besides the weak script (written by whom?), the acting leaves much to be desired. The cast is composed mainly of TV performers and it shows. Josie Bissett is a beautiful woman but only a passable actress. Of the three leads, Craig Olejnik does the best job. His final scene is chilling.
This muddled drama is worth watching only if there is nothing else of interest on the TV schedule. You may even want to opt for the shopping channel.
