Dragonfly (released in theaters on Feb. 22, 2002) is a haunting departure from the director’s usual comedic fare, positioning Kevin Costner in a somber, grief-stricken role that anchors a story of metaphysical longing. The film attempts to bridge the gap between a traditional medical drama and a supernatural thriller, exploring the thin, porous veil between the living and the dead through the recurring motif of a dragonfly—a symbol of rebirth and the favorite emblem of a lost loved one.
The story centers on Dr. Joe Darrow (Costner), a dedicated emergency room head who is shattered by the death of his pregnant wife, Emily (Susanna Thompson), a pediatrician killed in a bus accident during a Red Cross mission in Venezuela.
Consumed by work and isolation, Joe begins to experience inexplicable phenomena.
His young patients – children who have had near-death experiences – claim to have seen Emily “on the other side” and begin drawing strange, wavy cross symbols that Joe initially dismisses as trauma-induced hallucinations.
As the signs intensify, Joe seeks counsel from a skeptical hospital administrator (Joe Morton) and a pragmatic colleague (Ron Rifkin).
His obsession draws the concern of his neighbor, Miriam (Kathy Bates), and leads him to Sister Madeline (Linda Hunt), a nun who specializes in the study of near-death experiences.
Guided by what he believes are Emily’s frantic attempts to communicate through the “vibe” of his surroundings, Joe risks his career and sanity.
The mystery culminates in a perilous journey back to the Venezuelan jungle, where the true meaning of the wavy symbol is revealed not as a supernatural squiggle, but as a literal map to a miracle he never expected.
Matt Craven, Leslie Hope and Jay Thomas round out the cast.
Kevin Costner in Dragonfly (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for Dragonfly
Dragonfly grossed $10.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing third at the box office.
The film would gross $53.2 million worldwide.
Legacy
Dragonfly‘s legacy lies in its status as a supernatural drama, a genre that flourished in the wake of The Sixth Sense but has since largely migrated to television.
Costner’s restrained, internal performance is cited as one of the film’s strengths, grounding the more fantastical elements in a palpable sense of human ache.
Dragonfly remains a notable entry in early 2000s cinema for its earnestness and its refusal to rely on “jump scares,” choosing instead to build a legacy based on atmosphere, emotional payoff, and the enduring hope that love is never truly extinguished by the physical end.
