User Reviews

I didn't expect much from that film. I was wrong. A man who can see the dead and talk with them is a risky subject. Besides, made for television movies dealing with supernatural events are often disappointing. Producers and directors seem to be afraid to scare audience in any way, and network self-censure doesn't improve that. "Living With The Dead" is a miraculous exception that could break the rule - if television gives us more like this. The actors are all excellent, with a special mention to Ted Danson, who probably gives here his finest performance. Mary Steenburgen is fine too, and both Jack Palance and Diane Ladd are too famous for I say how good they are. The screenplay is excellent, one of the best in TV's history. It alternates chilling and moving moments without any false note, using misdirection and red herrings with consummate skill. The whodunit is remarkably held and will let you guessing until the end. Characters are well-drawn, three-dimensional, not the puppets that one usually see in that kind of productions. A closer look reveals an intelligent reflection on death and how deal with it behind the thriller elements. And don't forget the most important thing: it REALLY SCARES. As I've said above, TV movies are rather weak on that. Not "Living With The Dead", that had me starting, shouting and shuddering more than once, without any gory effect. Kudos to the director. So if you like first-rate ghost stories, that one is a must-see for you. Don't miss it. Maybe the dead are behind you... Don't displease them!

James Van Praagh (Ted Danson) is a weird man who sees and communicates with dead people since he was a child. After the death of his mother Regina Van Praagh (Diane Ladd), he resolves the murder of an old man, and Detective Karen Condrin (Mary Steenburgen) gets close to him. He starts investigating what happened to a dead boy, who insists to try to communicate with him. Later, James and Karen realize that many boys have been murdered and buried in an isolated forest for seven years. There are a few suspects and many mystery to be resolved. This thriller is excellent, having a very tight screenplay. The characters are well-developed, the cast has excellent names, including Queen Latifah and Jack Palance and the direction is good. The plot has drama, thriller, crime and suspense and hooks the attention of the viewer until the last scene. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): `Falando Com os Mortos' (`Talking With the Dead')

I have to admit I didn't have much faith in Ted Denson- he usually plays in comedies, and this movie is a drama. But after watching this movie, I have to beg for forgiveness for my lack of faith. :-) Denson was excellent and I was very impressed. The same can be said about Queen Latifah. They made me feel their fear, confusion, happiness etc. The plot was very good. I was in suspense the whole movie. Great direction, too. I loved the whole aura of the movie- dark and mysterious, spooky and creepy at times. It managed to be a suspense/horror movie, without being a standard horror movie. I mean, they don't show blood or disgusting things like in "Scream" (for example), but psychologically horror, like "The sixth sense". Hope you got my drift... :-)

Bottom line: this movie was great, I really enjoyed everything about it: acting, script, photography, direction, plot...everything. If you have the chance to watch it- watch it. I think you'll enjoy it... Have fun!!!

"Living With The Dead" is an excellent and very compelling film. I am not a huge fan of horror films and I hated "The Sixth Sense" for some odd reason, anyway when I first saw this film advertised on CBS I promised myself that I would resist at all costs and watch "Taxi Driver" on DVD instead, but then this made for television film started and to my surprise I was totally involved with the story and felt a connection to the character of James (I don't see dead people, if that's what you're thinking). I sat there by the tv totally mesmerised by this spectacular story. The story, directing, dialoge, acting, and suspence are all top-notch. I really loved the performances in this mini-series, I thought every actor played his/her part perfectly, but there are two people that I was really impressed with, when I saw the previews I didn't expect much out of Queen Latifa because I never really considered her to be an "actress", but she was just excellent in this film, gave me a newfound respect for what she does. The other performance I was surprised by was given by Ted Danson. You see I have always thought of Danson as a comedic genius because of his work from "Cheers" and most recently "Becker", but I have never thought of him as a dramatic actor so I didn't expect much from him either, but once again I was taken by surprise as this man really became the character and played the part perfectly. He was extraordinary in this movie.

Bottomline: It's a really great film that I hope to see again sometime.

Final-Grade: 8/10

I've accidentally found this movie on the Hallmark channel as there's no better choice on HBO and other movie channels that night. Without knowing anything about this movie I started watching it, and thinking that it might be just another horror movie. I must admit that I was kinda disappointed while I saw Ted Danson appeared on the movie cos I never really like Cheers and neither do I interested on any of his movie at all. But now, I must say Thank God I didn't switch to other channel which I almost did that night. This is an excellent movie with great actors, the performance of Ted Danson, Queen Latifah and Jack Palance impressed me a lot, and other actors were amazing in their roles too. I was stupid to ignore Ted Danson's movie in the past, he is really a great actor that acted with his heart and soul. This is not just a horror movie but a movie about forgiveness , understanding and most of all - LOVE!

I love this movie very much, so much so that I watched the repeat again the next morning.

There are at least 15 out of 16 "AMAZING, GREAT, SUPERB,..." comments on this movie, but you chose to put the only one that sais BORING on the user comment line. What's going on? Is IMDB getting boring? Plase... this is a fantastic movie with a great RATE, so remove the BORING line. THANX! line6 line7 line8 line9 line10 OK :)

This fine two-part TV movie held my interest from beginning to end and was even more exciting than "The Sixth Sense," which covered somewhat similar subject matter. Ted Danson was very good as a man who could see the dead and had a difficult time coping with this unwanted gift. People used to seeing him in "Cheers" and "Becker" will be impressed that he is equally effective in a dramatic role. Mary Steenbergen and other cast members were also very good in their roles. The biggest praise must go the the writers for producing a script that never let the viewer get bored or restless. The fact that this movie is based on a real person and a true story somehow makes life better for me.

It seems that there are several shows using the after death theme lately. In a culture that doesn't talk much about death this may help people become more open minded and comfortable with death.

I like movies with real life husband and wife actors performing in a film. This movie kept my attention throughout even though at times it did drag a bit. It was interesting seeing Queen Latifa act without being funny.

I am most moved by the ending of the movie. I didn't see it coming and that is refreshing. More importantly, the message of forgiveness and love in such a spiritually profound, visual and moving manner was very unique. I am grateful that I chanced upon it. There are no accidents only experiences.

This film is kind of like "Sixth Sense" (he sees dead people) only, in my opinion, a fair amount better. The guy is on one hand trying to help a detective solve a series of murders but also cope with his new found "talent" along with other personal troubles. Thoroughly watchable, I found myself eager for the adverts to end and get back to the excitement. It ends well and will surprise you.

It's interesting that so many people on here believe this film to be one of the best they've seen and awarded it high out-of-ten figures. It has received more positive reviews than some of the biggest, most successful films made. Why?

Given its strong made-for-TV look and feel, drama series-style storyline, and obvious adherence to Broadcasting Standards codes (should children be watching), you can't help but think this is a film destined to be forgotten after one viewing.

That doesn't mean it isn't watchable, but it clings to very safe territory. It tries to convey an upsetting, disturbing theme while desperately trying not to upset or disturb anyone. It wants its audience age range to be 9 to 90. As far as supernatural thrillers or horror films go, this couldn't be more 'balsa wood.' But it's worth a watch if you're prepared to accept that you'll have forgotten about it very soon after.

It's incredibly sad that a proven fraud, who has played with people's most vulnerable emotions centered around loss and grief, got his own pseudo-biopic. It's a lie-opic, really.

Even sadder is that celebrities with this reach and level of influence (Ted Danson, Queen Latifah and Mary Steenburgen) gave their names to support this train wreck of a production.

Verifiably, Van Praagh did NOT ever solve any cases for law enforcement. Verifiably, Van Praagh was analyzed, tested and debunked with scientific methods.

A better watch than this movie would be all of James Randi's videos debunking mediums and psychics, showing in detail how, with hot and cold readings, mentalism, showmanship, psychology, and subtle coercion, such conmen appear to know so much about our deceased loved ones as well as ourselves. And they all do it for large sums of money.

Even Derren Brown did a whole special on debunking an alleged medium.

This movie is the cherry on top of Van Praagh's sadistic cruelty towards deeply hurt and struggling people.

The way this movie depicts the protagonist as this meek, reluctant teddy bear type with a heart of gold is even more perplexing if you know Van Praagh and his methods as well as the lack of empathy and absence of a conscience it takes to go through with what he does to people.

Bottom line: An absolutely disgusting movie.

LIVING WITH THE DEAD, in my opinion, is an excellent supernatural thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It really kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought that Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen gave smashing performances. If you ask me, LIVING WITH THE DEAD has it all. Mainly, it has suspense. However, in my opinion, this film was put together flawlessly. When the spirits showed up, that was my favorite part. It was my favorite part for many reasons. If this ever comes to DVD, I would really love to buy it. I'd like to close by saying, "Parents, if you have young children, do not subject them to this film. They will get scared."

This movie has two titles & maybe listed on other websites by its secondary title 'Talking To Heaven'.

Detective Karen Condrin questions James Van Praagh about the level of his curiosity & responsibilities in using his gift for personal or worldly freedom or gain. The moment is/was overshadowed by the appearance of Karen's Dead Sister & Father, so the response was flimsy.

Whether you call it magic, metaphysics, miracle, mystics, occult, paranormal, psychic, science-fiction, supernatural or unsolved mysteries of the universe, a great chasm exists between this world & another dimension. The subject matter of this 2 Part Movie is described as 'supernatural'. In the Netflix Original Series 'Stranger Things', the subject matter is described as science-fiction. In the 3rd Season of Stranger Things 'El' 'closes the gate & subsequently loses her powers.

I reckon there's a lot more people like James Van Praagh 'out there' in the universe - people that can 'see things' - people that can see into the past, present & future, but they've already decided they're not curious enough like that to want to take on that responsibility. They don't want to solve the world's ills or be a Nobel Peace prize winner, so they've 'closed the gate'. James Van Praagh was 'wishy-washy' about his gift and never actually closed the gate, so dead people kept appearing to him, and kept us entertained.

I happened upon this little gem as I was channel surfing. An excellent story line with some commonality with other stories but still unique in its own way. The characters were well done, as were the special effects. Additionally, the special effects weren't the star of the show - the story was. The special effects were used sparingly and effectively, supporting and extending the story line.

The dank, grey ambience of Vancouver in the rainy season (think "Millennium") matched the circumstances of the lead character's life at the time (a failing business and a recently deceased mother) beautifully. Danson's honest portrayal of a troubled man with a newly discovered and troubling "gift" (his clairvoyance) were very, very well done. I have to admit that I never cared much for Danson's breadth of emotion, but this series converted me. Sorry, Ted and thanks, Ted!

Well done! A coup for all!

I watch TV and don't care how much of it ends. If I fall asleep, it doesn't disturb me that I don't know what happened. When "Living with the Dead" was on one Sunday with Part Two the next Sunday, I couldn't wait to see it, I even waited until 11 pm to drive about 4 hours (there & back) to take some children in the family home to their mother! (they didn't have to watch the movie, too young) And I had to get up for work at 7 am at the latest!! I thought the story and acting were compelling, I felt the story line could be possibly true, I was never sure who was doing the murders until nearly the very end. Of course, such subject matter isn't for everyone, but in the 21st century, it's on more people's minds than ever. The very best part of the film is when Diane Ladd says "Not Everyone" when Ted Danson asks her if death is peaceful for everyone...whew! This film is underrated. It really held my interest and I was recommending it, even to people who missed Part One.

James Van Praagh (Ted Danson) sees dead people; only he does not like it. His father admonishes his abilities, he almost had a girlfriend until he spooked her, his mother haunts him, and every time he tries to use his abilities something goes wrong.

Just as he tries to quit, everyone presses him to go on to help solve a 30-year-old murder with really spooky consequences. Is he the victim, the innocent bystander, or maybe the perpetrator? Will the case be solved?

The film starts very slow-paced, for a while you think you may be watching a religious documentary. It seems to deviate this way and that of course. Then in the second half, the pace picks up and you get absorbed and intrigued as it gets spookier and spookier. By the end, you find that the film did not deviate and every word, every gesture forms a tapestry to review an overall picture.

A surprising plus is the quality of the acting. I was especially surprised at Queen Latifah's portrayal of cancer patient Midge Harmon.

Very good movie with excellent actors. This is a really freaky subject but I liked it. Sometimes we Earth bound people need movies like this to just give us a clue! I hope others see this movie as such and not just a form of entertainment.

Many, many theatrical productions have tried to portray what it is like for a person (or a family) to live with a psychic gift. (ie: Medium, Sixth Sense, Providence, to name only a few). This production excels at this on many levels. I don't know if it is the masterful direction of Stephen Gyllenhaal, the exceptional ensemble cast (Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Queen Latifah, Jack Palance, Diane Ladd) or the involvement of the actual character in the writing, but this teleplay is given the treatment it deserves by all involved. This is not just a vehicle for the husband/wife team of Danson/Steenburgen. You can feel everyone's commitment to giving this story authenticity and humanity. Nothing is treated glibly or lightly or taken for granted. The title character is quite unwilling to trust his own visions until they insist on his attention by destroying his business and nearly his sanity. Before proceeding any further I must confess to being a skeptic. I don't personally believe in spirits communicating with living persons. But my grandson fully believes he can see and talk to spirits. How do I deal with that? I have learned to listen and sympathize but not believe. But that means I have been faced with the same problems that so many people in the movie seem to endure. One learns to walk a thin line, trying not to encourage or discourage, just to accept.

That is the theme of this work, acceptance.

But, back to the excellent acting and great directing. One of Palance's last dramatic roles, a little heavy-handed turn by Danson. But great understated subtlety by Steenburgen. A good watch on a rainy afternoon (4 hours long). I recommend it.

Talking to Heaven aka Living with the Dead is based on the book by James van Praagh, one of America's most famous mediums. He is also the main character, played by Ted Danson. The movie features the story of James' ability to connect with dead people and traces his supernatural gift back to his childhood. Now he is in his forties. When his mother (Diane Ladd) dies everything comes back and his abilities grow stronger. Mysterious things start to happen, dead boys haunt James and want him to do something. James is baffled and starts investigating with the help of detective Karen Condrin (Mary Steenburgen). While they come across a 30-year-old murder case involving seven young boys, James delves deeper into the mysteries and finds evidence of a connection to his own past. But their time is running out and the life of another boy (Reece Thompson) is on the line.

The story is very complex and sophisticated. You never stop making your own assumptions and the numerous subtle hints and connections between times and places give the story tremendous strength and add substantial quality to the plot. I have seen many mystery movies and thrillers, but hardly any is able to match the suspense and the complexity of Talking to Heaven. Despite its length of almost three hours and due to the wonderfully paced unraveling of mysteries and the ability of Ted Denson in particular to maintain the level of suspense, the story keeps the audience alert and never becomes slow or corny. There are so many connections and hints, so many scenes that are simply awesome and so many sub-plots with underlying themes and messages that Talking to Heaven can be called a revelation and a stunning mystery masterpiece.

The strongest aspect of the story is the link between the murder of the boys and James' own past. This makes him emotionally very much attached to the crime story and is perfectly connected to the introductory sequences that feature him as a boy. Everything is a puzzle at the outset and there is never a point in the course of the story where you could predict what is going to happen next. Very few movies achieve this level of unpredictability.

James' life and his struggles make up a significant part of the story, especially his relationship and his ensuing contact with his late mother. She provides some sort of guidance for him and makes him understand the issue of death and accept his gift as a blessing rather than a curse. The relationships with his father (veteran Jack Palance) and his friend Midge (Queen Latifah) have no immediate connection to the crime story, but provide substantial depth for understanding him as a character. The many scenes in which James talks to strangers about their late relatives collaborates to get a sense of his abilities and the mysteries of his life.

The murder case is the core of the story, its major strength and the main source of suspense. Even without the mystery aspect, this would make an awesome thriller. Mary Steenburgen as detective Condrin acts as a kind of buffer between the supernatural background story and the terrific real-life murder case and helps to combine the strengths of both. There are many pieces that need to be collected, many assumptions that need to be made and many secrets that need to be unraveled.

A major sub-theme is the story of Eddie Kats (James Kirk) and his mother. Their paths are a significant part of the story and add another very sophisticated emotional level. The scenes that feature Eddie and James reminded me very much of thematic elements that pervade the writings of Stephen King, who makes strong use of these cross-time stories that appeal emotionally and make you think about values and life in general. A similar pattern surfaces in the story of Reece Thompson's character, who is terrorized and trying to escape death. Both boys (Thompson and Kirk) are perfectly cast and deliver superb performances – though they appear on entirely different settings. They shine and add authenticity to the story, in particular on an emotional level.

Talking to Heaven is a combination of different genres. It features a complex and outstandingly sophisticated storyline, awesome actors and so many sub-themes that culminate in an entirely stunning and satisfying climax that leaves you at the edge of your seat. The final denouement connects with all the layers of setting, both time and place, and by then you realize the complexity and quality of the story. A brilliant mystery masterpiece by all means.

What a great cast! Ted Danson, Jack Palance, Diane Ladd and Mary Steenburgen especially. I'd lived to have seem more of Queen Latifah also, but hey..you can't have it all!

I'm not going to ruin it but if you like a whodunnit thriller with a bit of paranormal or supernatural thrown in then this is for you!

This film was the best movie I have ever seen with Ted Danson in it.

It is now on of my favorite tv movies and is highly recommended. When it first came out alot of people thought it would be really scary but it wasnt that scary and had a good ending! I cannot tell you what the ending was but if you would like to know find out! Way to go Ted !

like most people, the combination of Made for TV + Ted Danson = thanks, but no thanks!! this is where the subscribers to IMDb earn their corn! i was happily willing to give this a miss, and thanks to the comments here i am pleased i watched it. Ted Danson has never before played a role so well, and Jack Palance is a class above, but this lends itself to his dominance over the life of James Van Praagh. A well directed, suspenseful film that never appeared to be overlong and well acted throughout the cast. Normally in movies for TV there is 'deadwood' throughout the supporting cast, but not here. the subject of the film was never over-hyped or glorified into a scare fest and remained balanced throughout the movie giving the viewer an 'edge of the seat' experience. definitely recommended viewing, and so much better than over-hyped offerings currently available.

I have just finished watching the first part of Living With the Dead. I would ordinarily never even think of writing a review until I had finished watching a movie until the credits stop rolling. Yet this film is the exception to the rule. Not since Lonesome Dove has there been a multi-part television endeavor that I actually have been excited about seeing the finish. Until now. Ted Danson gives one of the best performances of his career. Portraying the guilt ridden Catholic and stodgy bibliophile forced into facing things he doesn't want to face in a very believable and empathetic way. The rest of the cast is equal quality.

Stephen Gyllenhaal's direction is deft and workmanlike. Throw in Jeffery Jur's top notch and sufficiently creepy Cinematography and you got yourself a very worthwhile movie, made for television or not.

I have now waited a week to see the finish. I stand by my previously conclusions. While the story itself is unexceptional, the dialogue is good. Whether or not the story is true or the movie is like the book is immaterial to the quality and enjoyment for me. I watched it on CBS and even though it was interrupted with an unseemly amount of commercials and my advice is watch it uninterrupted if you can, I still enjoyed it. All-in-all, a very worthwhile movie to watch. I give it 8 stars out of 10.