Imagine being the patient in a heart transplant when the anesthesiologist screws up, leaving you paralyzed but conscious of what the surgeons are doing and how much it's gonna hurt.

Ouch!

To make matters even worse -- if that's possible -- you can hear what the docs are talking about: namely, a plot to kill you and make off with your considerable fortune.

Double ouch!

That is the literally agonizing predicament of a young financier named Clayton Beresford in "Awake," the new film by first-time director Joby Harold. It sets off the mother of all out-of-body experiences, which both enlightens the victim about the evil scheme and sets the stage for the movie's satisfying resolution.

Beresford is played by Hayden Christensen, who's loaded with camera charisma but downplays it nicely in this outing. Jessica Alba appears as Sam, his beautiful fiancee.

Jack Harper, Beresford's surgeon and longtime friend, is played by Terrence Howard. Lena Olin is Beresford's loving mom, Lilith, who comes on as over-protective but turns out to have a lot of desirable qualities, including smarts.

All the actors are convincing, but Olin's portrayal of Lilith is the film's most nuanced and multidimensional performance.

"Awake" falters a bit in the surgical scenes. The cutting, sawing and stitching seem real -- maybe too real for some viewers. But the operating room appears understaffed and way too sparsely equipped by today's standards, especially for a procedure as delicate and complex as a heart transplant.

Moreover, characters stride in and out of the room as casually as if its swinging doors were the portal to a neighborhood saloon.

"Awake" is otherwise a compelling yarn, full of twists and salted with enough red herrings to founder a New England trawler -- though perhaps not the best entertainment choice for those about to undergo surgery.

If you're among them, be sure to have a really, really comprehensive pre-op chat with your anesthesiologist.