One of the lifelong questions that so many people ask is: “What happens after we die?” Some people explore this mystery via religion or spirituality, while others say nothing happens and we simply decompose. After.Life, by first-time feature director Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo, takes on this very question, prodding you to think everything you might know could be dead wrong.

A young Anna (Christina Ricci) dies in a terrible car accident after having an unpleasant dinner with her boyfriend Paul (Justin Long). When Anna “wakes up,” she finds herself staring into the eyes of funeral director Eliot Deacon (Liam Neeson) preparing her for burial.

She refuses to believe that she is actually dead, and Eliot insists she is and should come to terms with her unfortunate demise. Eliot informs Anna he has a special gift that allows him to communicate with the recently departed.

Paul, dealing with the grief and holding on to guilt, doesn’t quite believe that she is gone, either. He senses something is not right in the funeral home. Will everyone involved finally get on the same page of this fatal occurrence, or will it be too late?

The film at first feels like a modern version of Ghost, but darker and more eerie. It takes a rare look into the world of mortuary services and reveals certain how-to tips and tricks that should remain secret. Throughout the entire film, you are questioning what is real and what isn’t.

Neeson plays his creepy role to perfection, and it was nice to see Long play a character who is dealing with some dark and heavy dilemmas.

After.Life definitely plays out like a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end, but there were a few holes. Some questions that should have been answered were left up in the air, and that left me a little unconvinced. It has a strong cast though, and is great effort for a first-time feature director. There are just a few kinks to smooth out.