It's a slow-burning story of a young couple, still grieving over the loss of their son, that adopts a troubled young boy who's dreams and nightmares physically manifest while he sleeps.
It's a pretty ambitious attempt to take the usual "haunted kid" story and twist it around but unfortunately it falls a bit flat. It's biggest mistake is casting Kate Bosworth in the leading role as she doesn't seem to have the ability to bring anything remotely interesting or anything worth emotionally investing in, while Thomas Jane and Jacob Tremblay give believable organic performances. There's a few frightening scenes to please fans of Flanagan's previous films but here he focuses tragedy and heart and that's where it nearly succeeds if not for the blundering Bosworth.
3 butterflies out of 5
