Dream Scenario

Dream Scenario

3/11/2023 1h 42m 6.7/10

Overview

Hapless family man Paul Matthews finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.

Director

Kristoffer Borgli

Top Billed Cast

Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage

Paul Matthews

Michael Cera

Michael Cera

Trent

Julianne Nicholson

Julianne Nicholson

Janet Matthews

Dylan Gelula

Dylan Gelula

Molly

Jessica Clement

Jessica Clement

Hannah Matthews

Lily Bird

Lily Bird

Sophie Matthews

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

11/23/2023

6/10

When college professor "Matthews" (Nicolas Cage) starts appearing in the dreams of strangers (oh, and his wife!), his whole life is turned topsy-turvy. Initially it's all a rather benign phenomenon with his appearances fleeting, inconclusive and harmless. Until, that is, he meets one person who has been having a rather more intimate experience. Not only does this meeting not go very well (on various levels!) but it seems to change the very nature of the illusions for everyone, turning them more into nightmares... A predictable, occasionally violent, backlash ensues which makes the man's life - and that of his family - all but insufferable. What to do now his fame has come back to bite him? I quite enjoyed the first half hour of this quirky and entertainingly written drama. Cage is always rather good at taking the rise out of himself, and he seems to be enjoying the ride at the start. Once the story turns a bit darker, though, it runs out of steam. It's charm and uniqueness becomes rather subsumed in a rather unsubtle whack at the "cancel culture" that exists amongst those who live their lives via social media. It's not the first or the best to draw a parallel between what's real and what's fact - even when such distinctions are easily identifiable, and after a while I felt the film had no clear idea of how to conclude without actually proving it's own, rather depressing, point. The idea is interesting, the delivery is fine - but the end product is all a bit underwhelming.

Similar Movies

Three Colors: White

7.5

Three Colors: White

1994

History of the World: Part I

6.8

History of the World: Part I

1981

Massimamente folle

0.0

Massimamente folle

1983

He Was a Quiet Man

6.4

He Was a Quiet Man

2007

Grave Decisions

7.0

Grave Decisions

2006

Found Footage Festival Volume 7: Live in Asheville

5.2

Found Footage Festival Volume 7: Live in Asheville

2014

Second to None

6.7

Second to None

2016

Second Door to the Right

0.0

Second Door to the Right

2019

This Was a Mistake

0.0

This Was a Mistake

2022