In Dreams

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In Dreams

R,

1999,

1h 44m,

Horror/

Drama/

Fantasy/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

26%

46 Reviews

Tomatometer

40%

5,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

26%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

After clairvoyant Claire Cooper (Annette Bening) has a disturbing dream about the murder of a young girl, her daughter, Rebecca (Katie Sagona), is found dead in a lake. When the police dismiss Cooper's offers to help their investigation, she seeks treatment with therapist Silverman (Stephen Rea), who diagnoses her as emotionally disturbed. As Cooper's dreams become increasingly vivid, she grows concerned that she has developed a psychic link to serial killer Vivian Thompson (Robert Downey Jr.).

Critics Consensus

Some interesting visuals, but the movie is as confusing as a dream.

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Emanuel Levy

Variety

Oct 24, 2006

C+

Ambitious but ultimately incoherent and frustrating tale that may be too cerebral for the horror genre crowds and too literal-minded for the genre's more intelligent viewers; lush visual style compensates only up to a point.

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Janet Maslin

New York Times

Jan 1, 2000

3/5

At heart In Dreams is just a campfire story, and a pretty loony one at that. But Neil Jordan has directed it furiously, with a lush, insinuating visual style that gets right under the skin.

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Susan Stark

Detroit News

Jan 1, 2000

2/4

This routine fright factory employs the usual horror movie tactics.

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Jason Shawhan

Nashville Scene

Dec 16, 2021

Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, The Good Thief) took an interesting but messy Bari Wood novel, Doll's Eyes, and turned it into one of the greatest thrillers of the '90s.

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

May 2, 2014

4/5

Has a strange beauty, an intensely creepy atmosphere, and a grandly operatic feel.

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Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

May 3, 2009

1.5/4

In dreams, this film would be a chilling exercise in psychological horror; in reality, it's a fascinating folly.

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Theodore P

Nov 18, 2018

Muddled, confusing and nonsensical film wasting talents of director and star. Visually good but that is all.

Dec 21, 2017

Loved it. It's creepy, it's scary, it's sad, it's everything I want a psychological thriller to be.

Rey W

Oct 10, 2017

I can understand why people wouldn't like this film, considering a complex concept is neutered by poor execution and great actors give in to overacting more than once. Still, this film is hypnotic and dreamlike, many of the shots are pure art. If you appreciate masterful ambiance, this film has it, just don't expect to be rapt by the story.

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Luke S

May 5, 2017

Much better than you think.

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Neil Jordan

Director

Annette Bening

Claire Cooper

Aidan Quinn

Paul Cooper

Robert Downey Jr.

Vivian Thompson

Paul Guilfoyle

Det. Jack Kay

Dennis Boutsikaris

Dr. Stevens

The Guardian

25%

32%

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Synopsis

After clairvoyant Claire Cooper (Annette Bening) has a disturbing dream about the murder of a young girl, her daughter, Rebecca (Katie Sagona), is found dead in a lake. When the police dismiss Cooper's offers to help their investigation, she seeks treatment with therapist Silverman (Stephen Rea), who diagnoses her as emotionally disturbed. As Cooper's dreams become increasingly vivid, she grows concerned that she has developed a psychic link to serial killer Vivian Thompson (Robert Downey Jr.).

Director: Neil Jordan
Producer: Charles Burke, Stephen Woolley
Screenwriter: Bari Wood, Bruce Robinson, Neil Jordan
Distributor: DreamWorks SKG, Red Feather Photoplays
Production Co: DreamWorks SKG, Amblin Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $11.9M
Runtime: 1h 44m
Sound Mix: Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital

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