Dreamscape (1984)
Directed by Joseph Ruben
Genres - Mystery, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller |
Sub-Genres - Paranoid Thriller, Political Thriller, Psychological Thriller |
Release Date - Aug 15, 1984 (USA - Unknown), Aug 15, 1984 (USA) |
Run Time - 95 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - PG13
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Great special effects do not always make for a great film, but Dreamscape comes awfully close. Dr. Paul Novotny (Max Von Sydow) and Dr. Jane Devries (Kate Capshaw) run a clinic for the study of dreams. Hoping to alleviate the pain of those plagued with recurring nightmares, Novotny hires a team of psychics to "inhabit" the subconsciouses of the patients. Alex Gardner (Dennis Quaid), a small-time hustler who uses his ESP gifts for financial gains, is hired to work at the clinic. He helps to disperse the fears of a young nightmare-plagued boy, then reverts to type by "raping" the thoughts of the lovely Dr. Devries. Things come to a head when one of the patients, the American president (Eddie Albert), decides to purge himself of his apocalyptic dreams by making a lasting peace with the Soviets. Bob Blair (Christopher Plummer), the political reactionary who finances the clinic, decides to assassinate the president by acting upon Dr. Novotny's pet theory: if a person dies in his or her dream, he/she will die in real life. The finale pits Gardner against psychic assassin Tommy Ray Glatman (David Patrick Kelly).
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Keywords
assassination, dream, dreams, good-vs-evil, nightmare, psychic, science-runs-amok, supernatural-forces