Premonition has a cool poster, but its premise is pretty uninspiring.

As our very own Matt pointed out, film festival season is about to warm up here in the city. And thank God, 'cause the mainstream offerings this week look absolutely dismal. Not one but two (silly) movies dealing with the supernatural are launching in theatres today.

The first is the Sandra Bullock vehicle Premonition, about a frumpy housewife (Bullock) who sees her dead husband and realizes she's stuck in some loopy time warp. Too bad the dead husband doesn't show up in a giant bunny suit, a second helping of Donnie Darko would've been fine with me.

The second spooker opening this week is Dead Silence (originally titled: Shhhhh...), the sophomore effort by the two Aussie film school buddies, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, who made their debut with the clever indie-shocker Saw. To be blunt -- it's about a killer doll. Long after sharks, aliens and ghosts become tired Horror cliches, studios can always rely on killer dolls to inspire pediophobia in everyone.

Also opening in Toronto this week is Ken Loach's powerful and stark drama The Wind That Shakes The Barley (I recently reviewed it here) and the Zombie-Comedy Fido, which has been getting great buzz ever since it was shown at TIFF last year.

Opening this Week:

Premonition
Dead Silence
The Wind That Shakes The Barley *
Fido
I Think I Love My Wife
The White Masai

(* = Recommended)

On the Radar:

Film Festival fever warms up with: Les Nomades (March 15-17 @ The Drake Hotel) and Toronto Singapore Film Festival (March 17 @ Innis Town Hall)

(Photo: Sony Pictures)