Grade D+

 

A remake of the 1990 movie of the same name, “Flatliners” is about 5 doctors in training who experiment in near death experiences (NDEs), killing themselves for several minutes to see if there is an afterlife; and if so, what’s it all about.   Apparently, there is life after death, but it’s not exactly what the flatliners expect it to be.  This being a sci-fi/horror movie, there are side effects to their experimentation.

First, there is the euphoria, then excess energy, then heightened insight or intelligence, then sightings of spirits.  Are the creepy things that they are seeing really there, or are they losing their minds?  They need to find out soon before their NDEs become permanent DEs.

My most memorable, movie moment of “Flatliners” is the scene when Diego Luna, who plays the most level-headed and intelligent of the flatliners, joins the group voluntarily for the second time — the first time he was suckered into it and warned everyone they could lose their jobs and their freedom.  This was completely out of character and really took me out of the movie; and it was just the beginning of one shenanigan after another.

“Flatliners” has a few, good, creepy scenes; but the numerous, logical flaws severely undermines a movie that could have been much better.

— M