Trying to figure out the plot...

How does something this poorly written ever get made?

I wasn't .paying complete attention. But I did see the young clerk in the grocery store get killed, shortly after speaking with our hero.

At the end: when to mean detective finds the real killer's gallery of kills, he sees pictures of that pretty clerk. So, how did the killer manage to hide from the hero, and that girl, while taking some pretty well framed and well lit pictures of her?

I missed the first half hour or so of the film, but I saw the ending.

So, was this supposed to be the plot?

[1] Our hero is supposed to have had an affair with Diane.

[2] Diane is married to Frank, a brutal, jealous killer, who knocks their son into a coma.

[3] Diane informs the hero's wife about the affair, they argue, struggle, and Diane dies.

[4] The hero's wife covers up the killing.

[5] Frank tries to kill the hero's wife, by bumping her into traffic -- she survives, and they decide to move to a small town.

[6] His wife's near death experience triggers the hero to end his affair with Diane, without realizing she is dead.

[7] Our hero keeps seeing Diane in the small town, and incorrectly believes she is unwilling to accept their affair is over, when she is really trying to warn him, from accross the grave.

[8] Although Frank seems to be an impulsive moron killer, he cleverly frames the hero, for several brutal murders.

[9] Then instead of framing the hero for the murder of his wife, he takes her hostage, which provides an opportunity for a terribly long drawn out rescue.

[10] Six weeks later the hero says "they've dropped all charges!" What? Didn't his wife kill Diane? Why isn't Diane's ghost angry about that?

[11] Our hero and his wife visit the comatose boy's room, and leave some stuffed toys. They look at him with adoration. He wakes up! They are going to adopt him! Diane's ghost seems to have had this as her plan, all along! She whispers something to this effect to her son.

[12] The final five seconds of the movie have the camera shift to the other side of the hospital bed. The kid smiles an evil smile to the camera, and a foreboding chord is played.

Why would Diane want the hero to adopt her kid? He seems to be pretty selfish and incompetent. Why would she want to woman who killed her to adopt her kid? Why did the hero and his wife want to adopt the kid, anyhow?

What is up with that final foreboding chord? Is it a sacrifice to the god of sequels?