If the plot of this movie were any thinner, it wouldn’t exist. That being said, “The Machinist” is still a very enjoyable film. It has realistic, tangible characters and a really tense story, up until the end. It’s not that the finale is horrible, it is just seems ripped from three recent mainstream films which depending on the viewer could make this ending either horrible or tolerable. This kind of cheapens the story that the filmmakers create, as you realize that what happened could have easily been replaced by anything and still have had the same conclusion. What did you expect from the guys who wrote the remakes of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Amityville Horror”?

The filmmakers are obviously used to rehashing old material. It’s not really fair to the director, Brad Anderson and his actors though, because they actually pull this movie off pretty well. This is Anderson’s first movie since the freaky thriller “Session 9,” that slipped into the hands of horror enthusiasts as a hot rental. A nod should also be given to cinematographers Xavi Gimenez and Charlie Jiminez for superb splashes of dim but frenetic color. The mood is reminiscent of Burton’s “Sleepy Hollow” and Proyas’ “The Crow,” which makes “The Machinist” that much more tense and eerie.

Honestly though, the characters carry this movie. Without these strong performances, the story would seem a lot worse and the ending definitely would disappoint people more than it does. Christian Bale (“American Psycho”) deserves mad props and probably some kind of award for dropping over 60 pounds to make this film. It doesn’t matter who you are, that kind of commitment would make me respect even the worst actor of all-time, except for Paul Walker. The other standout actor is John Sharian (“Calendar Girls”), playing the insanely creepy Ivan, who lost all of the fingers on his right hand in a lathe and has a claw constructed in their place. Yeah … we’ll pass on that handshake, buddy. Jennifer Jason Leigh (“In the Cut”) gives a strong performance as the hooker with a heart of gold, as well.

Here’s the low-down. Bale’s character, Reznik, hasn’t slept for a year and he looks like he just spent that last year on the Hollywood 48 Hour Miracle Diet. He has a tendency to wash his hands with bleach, sleeps with a hooker named Stevie and frequents the airport diner to see his favorite waitress. There’s just one problem, he keeps seeing this stocky bald guy around the job. Hell, he even talks to him. What’s the problem? No one seems to think this guy exists. When Reznik accidentally causes the impromptu amputation of a coworker’s arm while distracted by this specter, things start getting weird, well, weirder than a 120-pound insomniac anyway. His coworkers don’t trust him anymore and he starts finding strange post-its on the fridge. He also starts seeing Ivan more and more. He’s practically everywhere. When his own arm is almost taken off a few days later in a machine, Reznik becomes convinced that there is a plot against him, one that everyone’s involved in. Contrasted against this dark backdrop is the waitress from the diner, who seems to be the second half of a budding romance.

What follows is a cinematic descent into madness. It’s just that we’ve been on this road before.

“The Machinist” is worth admission just for the acting, directing and atmosphere. If you enjoy these, you will enjoy the movie. However, if seeing the same plot twists over and over tends to turn you off, don’t bother. And if you have a heart, send Mr. Bale some Christmas cookies. He needs them more than Santa this year.

Grade: B