DREAM HOUSE (15, 91 mins) ** Starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Claire Geare, Taylor Geare, Elias Koteas, Marton Csokas, Rachel G Fox. Director: Jim Sheridan

Irish film director Jim Sheridan’s psychological thriller suffers from a nasty case of trailer-itis.

The two-minute promo, which has been playing in cinemas for months to drum up interest in Dream House, gives away the entire plot of this disappointing yarn.

Every twist is exposed so we know where the film is going far in advance.

Even if you head into the cinema blind, the film creaks with familiarity, applying the same plot mechanics as Shutter Island and John Carpenter’s The Ward, with similarly lacklustre results.

The inexpressiveness of leading man Daniel Craig does the film few favours.

His stricken hero is neither endearing nor sympathetic and we couldn’t care a jot if he unravels the mystery of the previous owners of his New England townhouse, who perished in grisly circumstances.

Craig’s real-life spouse Rachel Weisz fits snugly into the role of on-screen wife and they gel nicely in their scenes together.

Will Atenton (Craig) is a successful publisher in Manhattan, who abandons the city to spend more time with his wife and daughters Dee Dee (Claire Geare) and Trish (Taylor Geare) in the suburbs.

While reconnecting with his family, Will also intends to churn out the novel he has always promised to write.

An even bigger story unfolds in the Atentons’ home when Will learns that the family nest was a murder scene.

A mother and her brood were slain at the hands of a wrathful husband, shocking the quiet community.

Ann Paterson (Watts) and her teenage daughter Chloe (Fox), who live across the street, clearly know something but are reluctant to speak.

Then a mysterious stranger called Boyce (Koteas) begins to spy on the Atentons and Will is infuriated by the lack of assistance from his neighbours.

So he and Libby piece together the puzzle.

Dream House is, alas, more of a nightmare for everyone involved.