Dream Scenario (2023)

Dream Scenario (2023). 1h 42m | R

“The first eighty percent of this film was excellent – it felt like the best Stephen King story that King didnu0026#39;t write. The slow destruction of the life of an ordinary man for reasons which were completely outside his control was well-conceived, well-plotted and well acted. Nicholas Cageu0026#39;s performance was pitch perfect.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo an extent, this film can be seen as a satirical condemnation of social media fame and cancel culture, though thatu0026#39;s secondary to the theme of mounting paranoia – both from Prof Matthews and the wider world.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe fact that this film started out as a project of Ari Aster is no surprise, as it has much in common with Beau is Afraid – notably the hapless and powerless central character and some surreal and blackly comic moments.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThen, in the last fifteen minutes or so, the film loses its way. A new element is brought in which pretty much undermines what had gone before. The result wasnu0026#39;t bad, exactly, but seemed to belong in a different film. I think it wouldu0026#39;ve been better if the film had had the courage of its convictions and followed Prof Matthews to his logical fate.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor all that, itu0026#39;s an interesting film, and I would urge you to see it.”