Before I Wake

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Lenny C The concept of a child's dreams coming to reality is brilliant, and the themes explored by the film are extremely touching. The same cannot be said for the film itself. We learn about the emotions of Jessie, the mother, through her sessions with a therapy group. The film tells us what she feels instead of showing us, and it's the same for the other characters in other scenes. The film breaks the "Show, don't tell" rule of storytelling, and as a result, we don't experience the grief with the couple. We find ourselves as an external spectator, completely disconnected from the characters' emotions. It's difficult for the viewer to feel anything for the parents, even regarding their deceased child. The implausible dialogue and the actors' lackluster performances further widen this emotional gap. If you like mysteries, double meanings, and metaphors, you will hate this film. The director hammers home every emotion and every piece of information he wants the viewer to understand without any subtlety. You can guess the ending twist right from the beginning. Even though this twist has the potential to break your heart, it's so poorly revealed that no emotion reaches us. The film ends on a botched ending that defies all logic and leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. Unfortunately, the enormous potential of the themes addressed was ruined by a childish script, average directing, and mediocre visual effects. The result is a forgettable film. One can only dream that a better director will rework the script and make a better adaptation. Read more on my Substack: https://lennycritiques.substack.com/p/before-i-wake-2016 Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 04/15/25 Full Review Andrew R I actually really liked this movie. I’m surprised with the score. Horror movies typically have horrible story lines, I thought this was one was very creative. One of my fave horror movies honestly. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Korra N Mike Flanagan's weakest film to date but still imaginative & palpable, Before I Wake never fully commits to either the horror nor wonder of such a situation, instead being capably acted & beautifully shot. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/25 Full Review William O The characters don't seem to react to anything around them, especially the mom. The parents don't have family, friends, or really anything to make them humans for the audience to cheer for. Cool idea, cool ending, poor execution. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/25 Full Review Jeffrey P No wonder their first kid died; they’re letting this new kid take stimulants and wash them down with sodas in the middle of the night. Butterflies and rhyme, but no reason or frights. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 08/27/24 Full Review James F Before I Wake is a movie I didn't like upon release. But over the years as I watch more of Mike Flanagan's filmography I have learned to appreciate his writing, editing, and directing style more than the jumpscare. So if you approach this film as typical supernatural Horror movie you won't get that. It has flaws and takes a concept that's been done before but with a much better approach and execution. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/27/25 Full Review Read all reviews

Before I Wake

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