Dream House and a Haunted Fire Sale: A Movie Review

*here be spoilers.

Director: Jim Sheridan.

Writer: David Loucka.

Morgan Creek Productions and Cliffjack Motion Pictures co-produced the recently released Dream House to small crowds in September. The film has yet to rake back half of its $55 million dollar budget and arguments between Morgan Creek and director Jim Sheridan seemed to derail this project. It is great when big egos get involved in the creative process, right? The result of this haranguing was the result of a "reveal-all-plotlines" trailer, which gave away Dream House's tension and mystery. The film was shown to audiences in a two minute real, so film fans did not turn out to see the actual film. And then Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Jim Sheridan chose not to promote the film because of the trailer. Thus, you have a marketing disaster. The film itself struggles to find its genre while trying many of them on for size (thriller, horror, drama). David Loucka's script creates for an ever changing central character, who is sometimes a hero and sometimes a villain. The end result is a pretty enjoyable feature whose tension has been removed due to some questionable choices in the area of film promotion.

Craig plays Will/Peter a man with a bloody past. But, did he create those bloody memories or was it someone else? The film begins with Will leaving his job for a a life of writing in a new home. This home was a crime scene five years previous with a whole family being murdered (minus the father). As the trailer reveals, Will was the murderer, or at least he is accused of the misdeed. Will's identity is revealed and the illusion he has created for himself is a convincing one to himself and likely to the viewer. Cue the intro' of the real killer and you have a satisfying finale.

Unfortunately, because of Morgan Creek's marketing choices much of the tension and mystery from the film is not there. Word of mouth would have likely revealed the main plotline, but for a studio to do this seems ridiculous. Instead of tension there is a waiting for the big reveal of Will's true identity. However, Will's unraveling is a treat to watch as newly painted walls are reduced to smoke stained remnants of their former selves. As well, Will looks a lot more lonely when it is revealed that his family is now composed of ghosts. The trailer reveals much of this.

However, there is another secret or two in Loucka's screenplay. Who is the real killer and what are his or her motivations? These questions are not answered until the final scenes when a minor character steps forward in murderous fashion. Here, the film takes a step into the romantic genre with a touch of the supernatural. The film also switches from psychological thriller to a ghost story and the film touches on horror with some strange nightly visits. Do you need a car on your font porch? The true killer performs such random madness while waiting for the perfect time to attack.

Despite all the controversy surrounding this film, Dream House is still a solid thriller with a few twists to delight fans. The trailer has revealed most of these surprises, but fans of the psychological approach to horror might still enjoy this latest film from Sheridan. Sometimes it is just a little disappointing to see how the suspense in thrillers can be ruined by someone who does not appreciate the suspense built through mystery in film. Final thought: do not watch the trailer for this picture if you intend to see it!

Writing/story: 7.5 (the film seems experimental, mostly psychological in genre).
Acting/believability: 7.5 (the acting is good, one character allowing an accused killer into her home seems a stretch).

Overall: 7.5 out of 10 (good overall, the real killer's motivations seems to be a little strange and the reason for the first attack is not fully explained in one person's opinion).

*not screened for critics before its premiere (not a good sign).

**other reviews have generally not been all that positive.

A second review of this film at the Seattle Times (Roger Moore):

Dream House Reviewed at the Seattle Times

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