Review of Hereafter (2010) by Ramon T — 13 Oct 2011

Hereafter was a thoroughly engaging story about people dealing with death in different ways. I watched the film rather reluctantly after the lacklustre reviews, but was very pleasantly surprised. Essentially, the story is about three very different people living in very different places - all who have never met.

Cecile De France plays Marie, a successful journalist who, while vacationing in southeast Asia, barely survives a disaster. This event will begin to consume all her attentions. Matt Damon is George, a man who has a psychic gift, yet is happier as a construction worker rather than dealing with meeting other people's deceased loved ones.

And then there is a young British boy who loses someone very close to him turning his life upsidedown. The film analyzed different perspectives on death, but never really settles on one. Perhaps the lack of Christian finality in a Hollywood film was too much for critics stateside? Hereafter features very good visual effects and Damon in particular gives a fantastic turn in a role that could easily have been moulded into high camp.

A very pleasant surprise.