BAD DREAMS

US, 1988, 84 minutes, Colour.
Richard Lynch, Bruce Abbott, Jennifer Rubin, Charles Fleischer, Harris Yulin, Susan Rattan.
Directed by Andrew Fleming.

Bad Dreams was produced by Gale Anne Hurd, producer of such tough thrillers as Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss. The film is derivative of the Nightmare on Elm Street series. There is also a touch of the films about sects.

After a prologue showing the community and its self-destructiveness, the film focuses on the heroine Cynthia and the master of the cult entering into her dreams and killing the patients in the sanatorium. Of its kind, it is quite well done - touches of gore, but more attention given to the character development.

It takes its place in the tradition of the violent horror films of the '80s.

1.Enjoyable thriller? Horror?

2.The prologue, the house and the community, in flames? The transition to the hospital, the life of the hospital? The special effects? Stunts? Editing and pace? Musical score?

3.The title - and the echoes of Nightmare on Elm Street?

4.The prologue, the cult, Harris and his hold over the group? Cynthia and her place? The anointing with water? The gasoline? The conflagration and the deaths? The police investigation, her survival?

5.14 years later, Cynthia in hospital, the therapy for her to remember? The relationship with Alex and his therapy? Dr Berrisford and his intensity? Regime, drugs? Her relationship with the rest of the group, therapy sessions?

6.The group in therapy? The reasons for their being in hospital? The delineation of their characters? Harris entering into Cynthia's dreams? Their violent deaths? Lana and her shyness, the drowning? Miriam and being suicidal, in the elevator? The couple, their relationship, sex and guilt, being cut up? Ralph and his madness, intensity, cutting himself? The black girl and her taking the poison?

7.Alex, his skill as a doctor, concern about his patients? Cynthia? The investigations? The discovery about the drugs, his hallucination in killing Dr Berrisford? The scene on the rooftop, the confrontation of the doctor, hanging on to Cynthia, over the edge? Rescued?

8.Dr Berrisford, therapy, drug prescriptions? Killed in Alex's nightmare? The discovery of the truth, his being a maniac? Wanting power? Holding on to Alex and Cynthia? His threatening to shoot, Cynthia pushing him over the building?

9.The police investigator, his suspicions, presence in the hospital?

10.Cynthia, the experience, Harris entering her life, the need for exorcism? The nightmare going back into the house? Harris and his appearance in her dreams?

11.A brief, effective horror story, thriller?