Dream Lover (1994)

This is a usual setup, unwitting guy has married a woman who might not be who he thinks. Paranoia ensues. As we go through it all, we come to understand that he had his dream woman all along and blew it for capricious human nature, it opens with him being divorced from her.It sits for a while on an edge I like. What if she reinvented herself as we find out, Texas girl who run away from a redneck life, and was determined to pursue him like a man would? What if she isn't manipulatively evil but he is controlling and wants her to be at home waiting for him? We get the notion that he might be a crank and it may have played a part in his first marriage.She would then be anchoring a world where you can be troubled and determined both, self is fluid and we have to suspend judgment until the dragon flies in the sky. Amick is sensitive and bold enough in her poise to facilitate this double perspective.But of course the anchor is moved to calculating ruthlessness and we collapse to devious narrator who has been weaving a story that entraps all along, complete with actors, props and backstory. It becomes the garish fun where she won't tell him if their kids are his own, and the hapless stooge is dangling on strings of what she controls. I give it a positive mark because of how watchable in that video thriller sense of sardonically invented storytelling for the pleasure, but we're watching a cartoon by the end.Noir Meter: 2/4 | Neo-noir or post noir? Neo

Dream Lover has something in it for everyone. Right from the chemistry between the two central characters, to how the truth is uncovered and the twists and turns leading to the climax. As the movie unfolds, the viewer begins to realize the hidden agenda, motives and manipulation involved. Excellent performances by James Spader and Madchen Amick backed by a decent script, direction and dialogue make this one of my all time favourites. Its a movie which makes you realize that people aren't always what they seem to be and how certain events in Life do not always have to be a coincidence. In my book, Dream Lover is quite underrated and deserves better.

I love sexy femme fatale movies in general .i probably enjoyed Dream Lover more than i should have . i recently saw it on cable but missed the first 10 minutes . i was able to catch it again from the beginning . there were many flaws in the script to be sure . the movie kept my interest throughout but eventually fell apart toward the finale . i would have liked to have known more about the main character Lena Mathers as the plotting perfect wife from hell . silly over simplistic unsatisfactory ending . this film is more of a mystery than a thriller . i enjoyed the hot love making scenes . i bet there were a few alternate endings to Dream Lover but they decided to take the easy way out . if you like femme fatale movies just as much as i do rent Bodyheat , Basic Instict , Fatal Attraction ,and Single White Female . Dream Lover is an OK movie to catch on cable or DVD . almost " Hot "! ......... P.W.H.

Dream Lover is one odd little film. On one hand, it's a Neo-Noir style mystery romantic thriller, but for some reason; supernatural themes are constantly hinted at through the tone, title and dream sequences featured throughout the film. I have to say that it really looks like director Nicholas Kazan wasn't really sure what he wanted the film to be, and what we've ended up with is a disjointed blending of a few different genres, which hasn't come out all that well. Still, Dream Lovers does manage an interesting story in spite of this; and while I'm biased because I love a good mystery thriller, I'd say it's just about worth seeing. The plot focuses on Ray Reardon (not the snooker player), a man who has just split with his wife. It's not long before he meets the beautiful Lena Mathers, whom he falls in love, marries and has kids with...before realising that he doesn't really know anything about her. Oops! Around the same time, strange events transpire and it becomes obvious to Ray that Lena isn't who she appears to be, and so he endeavours to get to the bottom of who she is.James Spader takes the lead role and both acts and looks the part that he is playing. He is joined by the suitably sexy Mädchen Amick, who is both sultry and seductive in her role. The leads do have chemistry together, and while the film is in no way as sexy as Nicholas Kazan obviously thinks it is, there are no problems on the acting front. The plot really is all over the place, yet somehow it still manages to be rather predictable and despite being a mystery, Dream Lover soon sets itself into a rhythm. I don't like the title very much, as it gives the complete wrong impression of the film - and while it sort of makes sense given what happens, it could have been marketed better. It all boils down to a decent enough ending which, while not very clever, manages to make sense in spite of the fact that it's all a little bit silly, and the final sequence is by far and away the most powerful in the film. Overall, I can't really give Dream Lovers high recommendations, but it's enjoyable and I think the majority of negative comments directed against it are unfair.