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Rating:  - Not a Nightmare on Elm Street Rip Off.
I bought this movie after seeing the trailer on another Anchor Bay release, Cemetery Man. I knew I would have to buy it, just because it looked like it was right up my alley. After buying and watching it, I was very pleased. However, I have a feeling that I saw this movie a billion years ago on HBO, but just don't remember it.
As for the movie itself, well I love 80's horror movies. Which are different than horror movies, a horror movie is creepy, yet timeless and not dated. Now Bad Dreams has all the wonderful aspects of an 80's horror flick: bloods, dummies, profanity, creepy music, dark elements, questionable editing and dubious acting. The one keystone aspect missing is nudity, which is a staple in 80's horror. But in the case of Bad Dreams, I will forgive. Now is this movie the best movie in the world? No. Did the movie run a little too long? Yes, 15 minutes could have been shaved off. Is the acting top notch? No, but it isn't horrible either. In fact some scenes are pretty good. The thing about the movie that I enjoyed so much was the smoke screens it put up. It appears like it is going to be a Nightmare on Elm Street type of movie. With Richard Lynch's character being another Freddy Kruger. Now in some ways that is the case, but ultimately it isn't. The story line has a couple of twist, which is what gives this movie some character. I also liked the fact there was some focus on Borderline Personality Disorder. Having some experience with BPD, I thought it was interesting that a movie addressed it by its official name. Even though there were some liberties taken with the Disorder.
I also loved Chainsaw (I believe that was his character's name) from Summer School. His performance in Bad Dreams was great, in a B movie sort of way. I also love how the lead female characters in horror movies are always attractive. Jennifer Rubin fits the paradigm perfectly in this film. I digress in saying I love 80's horror movies. Dualism is the notion in describing these flicks, being both precarious and (unintentionally) hilarious. Bad Dreams is a reminder, for better or worse, they don't make horror movies like they use to. I personal lean towards the latter.
As for this movie being dated, I would have to say yes. The main reason was Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses was played during the end credits, which seemed totally out of place in this movie. Also totally dating the movie eternally in the 1980's.
Rating:  - Bad Dreams an original film.
I suppose this movie would have to be classified as a horror/thriller. It has plenty of thrills and manages to keep one on the edge of his seat. Jennifer Rubin and Bruce Abbott have plenty of onscreen chemistry and both their characters' relationship can be quite touching at times, particularly at the end of the film. Richard Lynch is absolutely perfect as the David Koresh-like Harris, who leads his devout, yet very confused followers, to their flaming deaths. It's the seventies clashing with the eighties as Cynthia (Jennifer Rubin) wakes up from a thirteen year coma in a psychiatric facility she was brought to back in 1973. I won't tell you the rest, I wouldn't want to give the plot away. I'll tell you this, for an eighties flick, Bad Dreams is certainly original. I loved it and I'm sure many of you out there will enjoy this one as well. See it for yourselves, you won't be sorry.
Rating:  - The only decent thing about this movie is Richard Lynch in his role as Harris.
Watching movies like "Bad Dreams" always makes me appreciate classic horror movies like "Halloween" and "A Nightmare On Elm Street". Although "Bad Dreams" starts out like it might have some potential, this movie ultimately suffers from a poorly executed plot, bad acting (except from Richard Lynch), sorry direction and an ultimately lackluster storyline. Basically, "Bad Dreams" is about a survivor of a crazed religious cult who committed a group suicide by fire who has terrible visions of her memories from that fateful day. As the movie progresses, it appears that the religious leader, Harris, is back from the dead to get the survivor. Now, I don't mean to give everything away, but when the killer is actually revealed, the movie becomes anti-climactic and the movie loses its punch because the only good thing about this movie is Richard Lynch in his role as Harris as he is quite creepy at being the bad guy/boogeyman. However, "Bad Dreams" fails as a horror movie as the kills are not that impressive, the villain is a disappointment and the storyline fails to sustain any momentum it gained from the beginning scenes involving Harris' prowess as a horror movie villain. Quite frankly, "Bad Dreams" will not scare you or give you bad dreams unless purchasing and watching a really bad movie is what scares you.
Rating: - tries for "elm street" type chills but comes across as a scooby doo plot
the tone,style,and paceing in this movie makes it look like an atemp to make an "elm street" type horror movie,but then they change gears in mid movie and take it down another path alltogether and throw the film out of wack.
a very young girl in the 70's is at the mass suicide of a cult. hurt she awakes 13 years later in a hospital for people with mental problem. soon after she wakes up she starts to see the cult leader everywhere and the people at the hospital start to kill themselves,or are they? after 10 min. you will not care because the movies is so boring. stick to elm street and skip this turkey
Rating:  - Very little blood and no nudity makes me sad.
I'm I the only one that noticed that nobody ever actually fell asleep and had bad dreams? Hum. Oh well it really doesn't matter.
Right as the members of the suicide cult Unity Fields light themselves on fire, a young female member has a moment of clarity and runs out. Thrown by the blast she's knocked unconscious and wakes up 13 years later in a psychiatric hospital. To help get her mind straight she's entered into hospital therapy group where things take A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3 turn for the worse when visions (not dreams) of the cult leader begin haunting the girl and people start killing themselves.
The evil cult member stuff was intriguing, but instead of sticking with that angle and running with it the filmmakers toss in some lame twist ending that totally sucks. Still BAD DREAMS is a passable slice of 80's horror nostalgia most notable for staring that guy from SUMMER SCHOOL, that other guy from RE-ANIMATOR and that one girl from PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE. Worth watching.
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