'White Noise' (PG-13) (out of four popcorns)

If you have ever lost your cable or satellite signal, you are probably very familiar with white noise -- that snowy picture with static-like sound. Sometimes you can even see ghosts of TV channels or hear music from a faraway station that isn't tuned in correctly.

Now, what if those video or audio fragments were not a TV or radio station, but a loved one who has died? Many believers in the afterlife think that electronic voice phenomenon -- EVP -- is not only possible, but has been happening for a long time.

"White Noise," starring Michael Keaton, delves into this controversial theory with gusto.

Keaton plays Jonathan Rivers, an architect, who is living a charmed life with his second wife Anna, a writer. One night, she never comes home.

Jonathan is approached by a man named Raymond Price who claims Anna has contacted him from the "other side." Of course, Jonathan dismisses him as a crackpot. But when Anna's body is found after a long search, Jonathan goes to Price looking for a last chance to talk to his wife.

Jonathan's despair is so great he will grab at any straw to make sense of his wife's death. He obsessively starts recording white noise and examining every second for a message that will give him peace.

A psychic says he is playing a dangerous game, but he refuses to listen to her and soon learns there are horrible things buried in the wavelengths. Even worse, some of the people he hears and sees are not yet dead.

Yes, it's a bit melodramatic, but "White Noise" has a solid performance by Keaton to help sell this bizarre concept.

The editing of "White Noise" is especially effective, using visual and audio transitions that approximate white noise to chilling effect.

However, with all of the careful setup demonstrating the affection of the couple and explaining EVP, I found it surprising how quickly Keaton's character overcomes his doubts and becomes obsessed.

Also, the ending feels like a bit of a cop-out bringing things to a crashing conclusion with many loose ends left hanging.

That said, there are enough chills and thrills to make "White Noise" a fun, bumpy night at the movies, and it is great to see Keaton back in action.