Genre: Psychological Drama/Supernatural Thriller
Logline: A doctor haunted by the souls of those he has euthanized is left in a state of near-death after a car crash when trapped within his paralyzed body, he has one week to convince his skeptical family that he will recover, all while facing the wrath of the spirits who want him dead.
Synopsis: In the somber world of Dr. Jonathan Hartley, a skilled euthanasia practitioner, the line between life and death blurs when he starts seeing the lingering spirits of the patients he has helped pass on. Among them, a mysterious woman’s apparition emerges repeatedly on the side of the road, haunting him at every turn.
As the doctor’s psyche begins to unravel, he becomes plagued by guilt and regret. Patients he can’t remember euthanizing appear on his daily train commute, sit beside him, or even hitch rides in his car, only to vanish upon arrival. But none affect him as deeply as the woman who haunts his thoughts and surroundings. The most fearsome spirits are the ones who say they are in hell and blame it on him.
One fateful night, shaken by a vision of the woman, Dr. Hartley crashes his car into a tree, leaving him in a coma with severe brain damage. Paralyzed and trapped within his own body, he retains his consciousness and awareness but can’t move or communicate.
Amid the turmoil, his family hovers on the precipice of deciding whether to pull the plug, wrestling with the guilt of their own decisions. Dr. Hartley’s wife, Laura, and his adult children, Alex and Megan, grapple with the profound ethical and emotional challenge.
As the week following the accident unfolds, Dr. Hartley’s consciousness battles against the encroaching darkness. A deceased relative visits him in a dream-like state, revealing that he will fully recover in a week’s time, but only if he can convince his family to hold on.
Driven by his determination to live, the doctor struggles to communicate, even as his family’s skepticism grows. In a climactic confrontation with the spirits of the euthanized patients, he learns that they want him dead, especially the enigmatic woman. Their regret and anger fuel their vengeful desires.
With only days left before his potential demise, Dr. Hartley must rally his shattered resolve to reach out to his family, make them understand his situation, and convince them to wait for his recovery. He battles not only his own limitations but also the malevolent intent of the spirits that haunt him.
He decides to leave his body and resort to poltergeist activity, which gains attenion. A priest is called and he prays, leading a prayer circle. The doctor comes to him in a dream. The priest saves him.
He survives. He closes his practice and devotes the rest of his life to saving potential suicides, sharing his own experience if need be but otherwise proving to be a nighly convincing hero to many.
