“A ghost is taking over Billie’s body like some sort of hermit crab?” —Mike
Today’s quick review: Between Worlds. Joe (Nicolas Cage), a trucker who lost his wife and daughter to a fire, finds new meaning in life when he meets Julie (Franka Potente), a single mother with the power to briefly visit the afterlife. Julie uses her power to revive her teenage daughter Billie (Penelope Mitchell) after a motorcycle accident. But as Billie recovers from her injuries, it becomes clear that something within her has changed.
Between Worlds is a drama with fantasy and thriller elements. The movie follows Joe as he tries to help Julie and Billie recover from their ordeal, only to find that Billie knows close-kept secrets about his past. Between Worlds aims to be a steamy, haunting tale about the dangers of meddling in the supernatural. However, due to its slow pacing, lackluster acting, and poor sense of suspense, the movie falls well short of its goal.
Between Worlds does a poor job of building on what could have been an interesting premise. Julie’s power is taken for granted by the characters and the script, with no real attempt to explore where it comes from or what it means. Billie’s arc takes nearly half the movie to pick up any momentum; by the time her secret is revealed, nearly all the tension surrounding it is gone. The cinematography suffers from awkward cuts and peculiar camera placement.
Another mark against the movie is its acting. Nicolas Cage turns in a sloppy performance as Joe, with bluntly delivered lines and little emotional consistency. Franka Potente makes an honest effort as Julie, but her performance comes across as too detached and she lacks chemistry with Cage. Of the main cast, Penelope Mitchell fares better, easing into her role more as the film goes on, but her character still isn’t put to very good use.
Between Worlds ends up being a supernatural thriller that’s neither thrilling nor has much to say about its supernatural aspects. Sharp flaws in its writing, acting, and direction keep it from capitalizing on its premise, leaving it to coast on a nebulous sense of menace and uncomfortable sexual tension. Between Worlds holds marginal value for those interested in its ideas, but most viewers will find that it has little to hook their interest.
For a much more effective treatment of similar themes, try The Sixth Sense. For a more touching romantic fantasy from Nicolas Cage, try City of Angels. For another uncoventional romantic entanglement, try Stone or Internal Affairs. For a budget drama with even shakier quality and more heart, try The Room.
4.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 3.5 for a flawed and relatively lifeless execution of an interesting premise.