Review of Dreamscape (1984) by Timothy S — 20 Mar 2014

A lot of science fiction films are either too scientific to be any fun or are entertaining but the science aspect is skeptical at best. "Dreamscape" is the rare exception that manages to find a nice balance between the two; the science is plausible but the film is also fast-paced and enjoyable as well.

Joseph Ruben is a skilled director, and he keeps the film moving, and the screenplay is smart as well. Writer David Loughery has a lot going on here, different genres colliding together in what could have become a mess of a movie, but the whole thing works surprisingly well.

Dennis Quaid is perfect in the lead role, good looking but smart as well, a hero without being overly heroic. He draws you into the story and makes the whole thing believable and accessible. The special effects, while cutting edge upon the film's initial release, seem a bit dated now but in my eyes are still more convincing than the CGI that plagues most movies these days. The stop motion Snake Man would have made Ray Harryhausen proud.

The dream sequences are impressive regardless of the film's age, and I wish there had been more of them. There are several notable similarities to this and another of the year's big dream-like release "A Nightmare on Elm Street", including the moment when bad guy David Patrick Kelly sprouts knives from his hand a la Freddy Krueger. This film made it to theaters a full three months before the Wes Craven future classic.

"Dreamscape" is a splendid science fiction film with a lot of novel, clever ideas. It's deserving of a wider audience to appreciate all it has to offer.