A spookier version of the Oscar-winning film Crash, Hereafter doesn't delve into the sociological cues that undergird society - like race and prejudice, but it ventures into the less tangible world of the paranormal.

Hereafter, a film directed by actor turned director Clint Eastwood, stars Matt Damon who plays a"retired" and formerly lucrative psychic who now a ekes out a meager living working at a factory. His name is George Lonegan.

George, in  an attempt to escape his complicated existence brought on by his psychic abilities, refuses to perform anymore readings for it distances him from real, genuine human relationships.

But, what's a 2-hour long film without a couple of readings, right?

So, George succumbs to the pressures of his older opportunistic brother (Jay Mohr), his lovely cooking class partner (Bryce Dallas Howard), and a tween boy who he meets at a London Book Fair while on a bit of a respite.

George's readings leave him feeling empty because he shares with the living the messages of their deceased loved ones. Yet, he feels taken advantage of. It has very little to do with he as a person. He is merely milked for his ability. He is quite similar to many of us with gifts that are that out of the ordinary. We become an oasis of sorts for the needy, the searching, the helpless.

Sadly, this was the gist of the film. We felt the loneliness, the regret, the reservedness of Damon's character, but none of his actions ever brought us any closer to empathizing all that much with him or falling into like, let alone love, with him.

Not only that, the film barely scratches the surface concerning the issue at hand: the hereafter, the intangible life after death.

Yes, the French journalist who received a concussion during a tsunami accident in the story - Marie (Cecile de France) - had a near-death experience that shook her reality   -- so much so that she scraps her original book deal and begins writing about the paranormal.

But, even George and Marie's meet-up toward the end is hardly a pay-off for Hereafter's audience.

The one and only thread of the story that served to pull a heart string or two was the story of Marcus and Jason (Frankie/George McLaren), London schoolboys whose mother is a heroin addict. They care for themselves while covering for their mother with child protective services.

Each character has a unique brush with death. But, in the end we learn that so many of us have a specific interest in the life to come? Will they be happy? Will they suffer? Will there be love on the other side?

Each one must explore for him/herself to see what the end is going to be.