The film is a terrific scare show, fast and furious, made with a lot of style and energy, packing plenty of jolts yet never lingering morbidly over horrific images. It is anchored in strong characterizations, and its plot develops with chilling psychological suspense. It's such a skillfully made entertainment that its plunge into the supernatural is persuasive even for the skeptical.

This remake stays close to the eponymous 1979 horror movie it's based on, except for being precisely 10,000 times scarier.

I got exactly what I expected: Scared and tickled, within an inch of my life.

The new film is also sleeker, sexier, and, thankfully, shorter than the original.

With his beard and '70s clothes, Reynolds looks like Val Kilmer playing Jim Morrison. Before things go precipitously south, he gives an endearing performance that proves he's ready for far more substantial roles than Van Wilder.