The Lazarus Project

Ben Garvey, a small-time criminal, lands on death row after another mistake. But his sentence isn't what it seems. He wakes up near a grim, unnamed psychiatric ward and is told he will work as a groundskeeper there. As his wife Lisa and daughter become his north star, Ben wrestles with the meaning of being alive and what his afterlife might entail. Is this a chance at true mercy or something darker designed to twist fate? The story follows his precarious choices as he tries to understand the mysterious forces shaping his second chance. The fate of Ben's soul and his family's safety hang in the balance.

Directed by John Glenn and released in 2008, The Lazarus Project stems from an original screenplay by Evan Astrowsky and Nick Burns. The cast centers on Paul Walker as Ben and Piper Perabo as Lisa, supported by Lambert Wilson and Linda Cardellini in pivotal roles.

Critics labeled it a moody thriller about redemption and the reckoning that follows a second chance. Paul Walker brings plain-spoken urgency to Ben, while Lambert Wilson lends a measured, unsettling presence as Avery the man who holds the key to what happens. Some reviews cite uneven pacing and familiar genre tricks, yet others praise the film's tense atmosphere and ethical questions about choice, faith, and the value of family.

Cultural impact remains limited. The Lazarus Project has not left a lasting mark in pop culture, and there are no widely cited quotes or scenes that entered the common lexicon. Some fans of late 2000s thrillers revisit its premise around questions of fate.

Awards: The Lazarus Project did not receive major award nominations. Some small festivals gave it limited attention, but it was largely ignored by major ceremonies. Critics who considered it praised the performances and atmosphere, but the film did not attract attention from prominent awards bodies.