In Dreams

When nothing connects, the building falls down. That's what happens here. A paedophile, serial killing, loony story turns into Nightmare On Elm Street, with Annette Bening doing the full-bore Barbara Stanwyck, as fey New England pilot's wife, Claire Cooper, who thinks she has a deranged, half-drowned child in her head.

Neil Jordan can't keep his hands off psychic phenomenon - remember The Company Of Wolves and High Spirits? Dreams are a speciality of his. He loves to linger in their semi slo-mo otherness. As a result, he makes a difficult - let's face it, absurd - concept so complicated you find yourself in agreement with Paul Cooper (wasted Aidan Quinn), when talking to the police shrink (pointless Stephen Rea): "I'm lost, doctor." "Join the club."

Little girls are being kidnapped and murdered. Claire has dreams, in which she sees into the mind of the killer (Robert Downey Jr, letting it all hang out), while being possessed by him and somehow doing his will. The cops think she's unplugged and have her padded in the local funny farm.

This is Jordan's first American movie, if you discount Interview With The Vampire. He doesn't make use of the stunning scenery, or give any sense of New Hampshire. If it wasn't for the accents, you might be in Donegal. Downey is juicy, Bening is brave, the rest are out to lunch. There is no connection between character and plot. The film falls down.