DREAMCATCHER
US, 2003, 134 minutes, Cover.Colour.
Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant, Tom Sizemore, Donnie Wahlberg.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan.
Dreamcatcher is an ambitious screen interpretation of Stephen King’s novel. It has a big budget, a reputable cast, alien creatures, action and special effects. It was directed by Lawrence Kasdan, co-written by him with celebrated screenwriter, William Goldman.
The background of the story has some “mystical” aspects, with flashbacks to the boyhood of the four central characters, reminding audiences of Stand by Me. They save an impaired young boy from being bullied, and he seems to transmit powers to them, knowledge of what is going on, past and future.
In the present, they are four adult men who team up for a weekend in the country. Then the film turns into an alien invasion and penetration film, with Morgan Freeman in charge of operations. The four men become more and more involved, leading to some deaths and some heroic stances to stop the Boston water supply from being infiltrated by the aliens.
The whole thing is a rather heady mixture, somewhat surprising to see those involved in an alien attack film.
The performances are mixed, some vigorous, some rather wooden (like that of Thomas Jane). The film is one for Stephen King fans and those interested in films about aliens.
1. An adaptation of Stephen King’s novel? King’s themes, characters, horror, aliens? The high-budget treatment? Cast?
2. The title, the initial drawing, the emblem hanging from the roof, Duddits as a dreamcatcher, the three boys and Duddits’s effect on them? Their power to see and know things? Dream catching?
3. The locations, the past, the summer, the atmospheric boyhood, troubles, happiness, the mystery of Duddits and the lost girl? The contrast with the present, winter, the scenes in Boston of each of the characters and their work? The village, the house, the forests and the snow? The occupied town? The military? Helicopters and gunfire? The interiors, the house, the toilet, Jonesy’s imaginary repository, the military officers, the hospital? The musical score?
4. The introduction to each of the characters, Henry and his psychology, his fat client, telling him information about his mother’s death, humiliating him, his regrets, putting the gun to his head, the phone call? Jonesy, his work, friendship, the weekend, seeing Duddits across the street, walking into the traffic, his being hit, hospital, his being alive again? His psychological state? Pete, his life, work, drinking? Beaver, and the organising of the weekend? Their arrival, settling in, the house?
5. The insertion of the flashbacks, the boys, their age, confronting the bullies, rescuing Duddits, the effect of Duddits on them?
6. The two going to the store, the ride back in the snow, swerving on the alternate path, seeing the man in the snow? The woman in the snow? Thinking her dead, her coming alive, her words? Henry walking back to the house, Pete remaining with the woman?
7. Jonesy and Beaver in the house, settling in, finding the man, his bewildered state, taking him into the house, flatulence, giving him the bed to rest in, finding the toilet, the emergence of the aliens, Beaver sitting on the toilet, the struggle, his death? Jonesy, his fears, searching for the tape, returning and finding the bodies, the body exploding, the fumes, Jonesy absorbing them, the alien inside his body, his real self in the repository, trying to get rid of the documents? His being outside, seeing his possessed self on the sleigh, the two talking to themselves, changing voices? Finding Pete? Trying to rescue him? His death?
8. Pete, in the snow, with the woman, urination, the alien emerging, clinging to him, his death?
9. The transition to the town, Curtis and his command, Morgan Freeman’s presence, his explanations to Owen, Owen’s loyalty? The possessed, the destruction of the creatures in the area? Helicopters and fire? Owen doubting Curtis? The missions? The dangers for the helicopters? The return? The general arriving and confronting Curtis, Curtis’ talk about retiring, 25 years combating aliens? His mental state?
10. Henry coming to the town, his mental powers, being interned, talking with Owen, persuading him of the truth? Owen in the car, the gun, the device for location detection? Talking? Wanting to find Jonesy? Jonesy and his going to the dam, their meeting with Duddits?
11. Duddits, the past, been bullied by the boys, the group rescuing him, the powers, finding the girl in the well> Their admiration for Duddits? His house, his mother looking after him, letting go, the medication? In the car?
12. Arriving at the dam, Jonesy and his split personality, Henry trying to discern which character it was? Duddits, knowing everything from the beginning, the alien as Mr Grey, his transformation into an alien, the struggle with Mr Grey, destruction, Jonesy’s treading on the alien before it got into the water supply?
13. The world saved? How persuasive a horror film, a monster film, aliens film, a military? An interpretation of Stephen King?
