Dreamscape

I watched DREAMSCAPE last night, which was released in 1984. My initial thoughts are: 1) how did we ever think synthesizer music created a sense of dread (you’re pushing two keys over and over again! that’s not scary!) and, 2) feathered hair needs to make a comeback. In other words, the 80’s-ness of the movie trumped everything else it was trying to accomplish. Also, a key part of the plot hinged on Russia as THE ULTIMATE ENEMY. Ergo, this movie did not age well.

The reason I decided to watch this 80s time machine was due to my utter disappointment in the way dreams were treated in INCEPTION. The dreams in that movie were so blandly realistic and logical and hinted nothing towards the crossblend of meta-reality, fantasy & emotion that lingers with us when we wake. DREAMSCAPE does achieve more of the mystery of dreams (except for a hilarious snake monster, who unfortunately was meant to be anything but hilarious). Disappointingly, the rest of the movie was pretty unbelievable.

Needless to say, neither of these movies rank among the best of “dream” movies, which are:

1) Wizard of Oz
2) Mulholland Drive
3) Waking Life
4) Nightmare on Elm St.
5) Dream a Little Dream

Any I’m missing?