Dream Scenario (2023) Horror Movie Review

As Paul becomes a dream phenomenon, things take a dark turn when the dreams turn violent. This film, with its unique premise, probably won't be replicated on the big screen anytime soon due to budget constraints and the hesitancy of some studios. But enter writer/director Kristoffer Borgli, supported by A24 and producers Nicolas Cage and Ari Aster. Borgli, a Norwegian satirist, is known for exploring crude commercialism and absurd scenarios. 

Nicolas Cage delivers an outstanding performance in a quirky storyline where he unintentionally becomes an oddity, despite his usual cinematic superpower of intentional weirdness. This iconic normal guy role suits Cage well, reminiscent of his work in Spike Jonze's "Adaptation." In recent years, Cage has embraced meta layers in his career choices, aligning them with his passions.

In this spirited role, Cage brings essential innocence to a character named Paul, initially finding humor in his blandness and later portraying him as a clueless pawn in the culture wars. Paul, a professor aspiring to be known for writing a book about ants, becomes unintentionally famous, and Cage plays the part as if it were a biopic.

The script, inspired by memes, the thrill of going viral, and celebrity culture, is amusing when presenting the initial problem. There are laughs as Paul, flattered by the attention, makes amusing remarks like, "Have you been dreaming about me?" However, the film falls short by not delving into why these strange events occur or exploring their global impact. The lack of explanation for the sudden violent turn in everyone's dreams leaves the audience wanting more.

While the movie has its share of awkward and punchy moments, including some bodily function humor, it lacks a standout scene. Cage's sincere performance can only carry the film so far as Paul navigates a downfall without a clue how to reverse it. Even when Paul attempts to gain empathy with a crying video, mimicking influencers, it only makes things worse without improving the overall narrative.

"Dream Scenario" is a comedy that manages to elicit cringing laughs, mainly relying on easy jabs at various targets like influencer culture, cancel culture, and familiar figures such as Tucker Carlson. The humor often hinges on recognizing the references rather than digging into their deeper meanings, following the pattern set by director Kristoffer Borgli's previous work, "Drib."

Similar to his first feature, Borgli's satire doesn't focus on what a reference signifies but rather on what it symbolizes. Unfortunately, in "Dream Scenario," the awkward humor takes precedence, overshadowing the storytelling and leaving well-played characters, including those portrayed by Michael Cera and Dylan Gelula, feeling like mere sketches. Notably, Julianne Nicholson's portrayal of Paul's wife, Janet, is a missed opportunity, as she remains one of the few who genuinely understands Paul beyond the dreamscape.

The dream sequences in "Dream Scenario" unfold as disquieting slapstick, contributing to Borgli's overall unsettling filmmaking style. Cinematographer Benjamin Loeb's human touch, with low-angle profile shots and tangible film stock, adds to the strange tone that leans more towards horror-induced discomfort than outright horror. Borgli keeps the audience guessing with jarring cuts and scenes that blur the line between reality and dreams.

The film draws inspiration from the real-life phenomenon of "This Man," a sketch that has sparked a website connecting people who claim to have dreamt about a seemingly ordinary face. Borgli transforms this concept into a screen presence embodied by Cage, exploring ideas of collective unconsciousness, dream surfing, or even the existence of a divine force. It's a quirky take on a meme-worthy topic that we've all encountered at some point.

In the end, "Dream Scenario" becomes what it mocks – a meme in itself. While it aims to make a point about the nature of memes and our cultural obsession with them, it falls short of delivering a memorable statement or pivotal scene. The film is an intriguing, oddball amusement, embracing its meme status without making the most impactful statement it could.