Synopsis:
A psychic, Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid, Breaking Away), reluctantly joins a secret government project about dream manipulation. But Alex soon finds out that the project is part of a devilish plot to assassinate the President of the United States.
Reaction & Thoughts:
“Alex, it’s very simple. Either you work for me or you die.”
Part science fiction, part conspiracy thriller, Dreamscape is a dandy mash-up of genres — it has a touch of Indian Jones, a bit of Stephen King, a pinch of Twilight Zone, even a nip of Hitchcock. It’s also stuffed with in-jokes that will amuse movie buffs.
Although the script by David Loughery (Passenger 57), Chuck Russell (The Mask), and director Joseph Ruben (The Stepfather), sometimes resorts to predictable twists and turns, the film’s deliberate cheekiness is hard to resist. Dreamscape winks at the audience to let us know that it’s fully aware of its clichés.
After all is said and done, what I liked most of all is its old-school visual effects. In the 1980s, the film industry was beginning to move away from practical effects, relying more and more on computer-generated images. Dreamscape stubbornly refuses to embrace new technological advances, relying on basic techniques instead.
We get a bit of everything: stop-motion animation, matte paintings, miniatures, blue-screen process, etc. The images might hurt the eyes of younger viewers accustomed to fancy CGIs, but I’m sure older viewers will enjoy the visuals’ retro look.
Dreamscape has a great cast as well. It’s surprising to find so many fine actors in what is essentially an expensive B-movie. Dennis Quaid is appealing as the movie’s reluctant. Kate Capshaw (Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) is effective as a dedicated researcher who helps a bewildered Quaid battle the bad guys.
Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music) is wonderfully sinister as an evil government official. David Patrick Kelly (The Warriors) is scary as an evil psychic. Max Von Sydow (The Exorcist) plays a scientist. George Wendt (Normie, TV’s Cheers) plays a reporter. Eddie Albert (Roman Holiday) plays The President.
Conclusions & Final Thoughts:
Dreamscape has cool ideas, nice visuals and a solid cast. The plot moves swiftly to a predictable, but satisfactory conclusion. The film also perfectly captures the anxieties of the Reagan-era. In this regard, Dreamscape offers modern viewers a snapshot of the USA in the ’80s. Recommended. Color, 99 minutes, Rated PG-13.
Diary of A Movie Maniac 
I too loved this one as a kid and showed it to my own boys a few years back. Not only were the visuals cool at the time but I think it helped that I knew most of the actors that were involved. Plummer, Quaid, Eddie and of course that creep from The Warriors. lol.
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Did you like the poster? I thought it was cool. Similar to The Goonies, Lampoon’s Vacation and Temple of Doom! 🙂
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Absolutely. It was obviously influenced by the Indy I thought at the time. Same artist? Sadly, it’s not in my collection.
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Why have I never heard of this?! Definitely one to check out. Thanks for the review Eric.
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It’s a fun movie! 🙂
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🙂
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It was the first movie I saw Dennis Quaid in, just before Enemy Mine and Suspect. It is indeed a sci-fi horror gem for its time.
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I probably saw him for the first time in Breaking Away. Anyhow, the 1980s were kind to Quaid: The Long Riders, Enemy Mine, Suspect, Innerspace, The Right Stuff, etc., all good stuff.
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Last film I saw him in was Frequency which also seemed kind to him.
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I liked Frequency a lot! 🙂
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For a sci-fi film that dramatizes how changing the past doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, as opposed to most sci-fi warnings against changing the past throughout Doctor Who and Star Trek, I certainly liked Frequency too. True family love can conquer all.
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