Before I Wake

Name: Before I Wake
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror
Released: January 5, 2018
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Annabeth Gish, Antonio Evan Romero, Dash Mihok, Jacob Tremblay, Jay Karnes

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Ratings

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6.6

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6.6	Your Score
6.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 28 Ratings

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Before I Wake (Trailer 1)

Movie Details & Credits

Relativity Media | Release Date (Streaming): January 5, 2018 | PG-13

Starring: Annabeth Gish, Antonio Evan Romero, Dash Mihok, Jacob Tremblay, Jay Karnes, Kate Bosworth, Kyla Deaver, Lance E. Nichols, Thomas Jane, Topher Bousquet

Summary: Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) decide to take in a sweet and loving 8-year-old boy, Cody. Unbeknownst to them, Cody is terrified of falling asleep. At first, they assume his previous unstable homes caused his aversion to sleep, but soon discover why: Cody's dreams manifest in reality as he sleeps. In one moment theyJessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) decide to take in a sweet and loving 8-year-old boy, Cody. Unbeknownst to them, Cody is terrified of falling asleep. At first, they assume his previous unstable homes caused his aversion to sleep, but soon discover why: Cody's dreams manifest in reality as he sleeps. In one moment they experience the incredible wonder of Cody's imagination, and in the next, the horrific nature of his night terrors. To save their new family, Jessie and Mark embark on a dangerous hunt to uncover the truth behind Cody's nightmares.… Expand

Director: Mike Flanagan

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Horror

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 97 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Critic Reviews

Matt Donato

Jan 12, 2018

Before I Wake is a beautiful, meditative ghost story with one of the more rewarding horror payoffs I’ve seen in years. Read full review

Chuck Bowen

Dec 22, 2017

Before I Wake's images have a pleasing straightforwardness that parallels the openness of the young protagonist's longing for love. Read full review

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

Jan 5, 2018

Before I Wake has its imperfections and moments of narrative lag, but its thoughtful touches and attention to character load Cody’s abilities and the threat of the Canker Man with a dramatic weight that often outbalances the generically spooky imagery. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Jan 5, 2018

It’s a flawed film, but there are elements that really work, especially the lead performance and some of Flanagan’s gifts with composition. Before I Wake is also particularly interesting to watch now as one can see it as a career stepping stone to the movies he's made since. Read full review

Consequence of Sound Randall Colburn

Jan 7, 2018

As it lurches into its second act, Before I Wake begins slavishly following the beats of its studio horror contemporaries, (mostly) abandoning its nuance for rote investigations into the cause of the phenomena and horror set pieces that defy the previously established logic of the dream manifestations. Read full review

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User Reviews

Hugi09

Aug 4, 2019

Perfect!!!!!!!! Scary!!!!!!!! Terrifing!!!!!!!!! J’ai beaucoup aimé l’an fin art ça fait peur mais le début est trop long :(

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TheQuietGamer

Jan 13, 2018

The fate of Before I Wake has been up in the air for quite some time. It was unclear if the movie was ever going to be released despite being fully-finished and the few critical reviews that were out there said that it was far from the director's best. Thankfully, Netflix and Flanagan usedThe fate of Before I Wake has been up in the air for quite some time. It was unclear if the movie was ever going to be released despite being fully-finished and the few critical reviews that were out there said that it was far from the director's best. Thankfully, Netflix and Flanagan used their relationship to finally ensure the movie sees the light of day. Just like his other movies, Before I Wake shows once again how Flanagan is one of the few people left in modern horror cinema to create actual characters with legitimate stories.

The plot is filled with a sort of eerie tension. There's a symbolic quality to horror scenes, particularly the final ones at the end of the movie, that add depth and allow the characters (all of whom are wonderfully acted) to grow from the events at hand. We watch a struggling couple deal with loss and moving on. The movie has a lot to say about trauma from the perspectives of adults and children. Both the moments of fantasy and horror tie into a specific characters life experiences. The mind of a child is beautifully used to create visions of magic and terror. The latter of which only falls a bit short by the overuse of the main monster. A necessary evil though because of significant that monster is to the story.

If the film leaves you wanting anything, it's a better ending. Things conclude on a solid note, but do leave a few questions. I was able to find the answers to them upon some reflection, but that didn't rescue me from my feelings of minor disappointment in this department. However, the fact that Flanagan might not have found the best conclusion to his story only further cements him as the Stephen King of filmmaking in my mind. Before I Wake is more original horror with touches of fantasy and a real story from one of the best names in the genre. If you've liked his previous works, this is not to be missed and it's still a must for horror's most devoted followers.… Expand

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AGeekNamedBob

Jan 6, 2018

While finally released on January 5th, 2017, Mike Flanagan's Before I Wake was completed and set for release in 2015, until Relatively Media went under, leaving Before I Wake to sleep on a shelf. Now that Netflix has grasped onto Flanagan, it's no surprise they picked up the rights to theWhile finally released on January 5th, 2017, Mike Flanagan's Before I Wake was completed and set for release in 2015, until Relatively Media went under, leaving Before I Wake to sleep on a shelf. Now that Netflix has grasped onto Flanagan, it's no surprise they picked up the rights to the film. Through the company Flanagan presented two of the best films of 2016 and 2017: Hush and Gerald's Game, respectfully. Next on the docket is a limited series version of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting. I'm very excited for this prospect.

Before I Wake was made after the "this-is-great-you-should-seek-it-out" Absentia and the under-rated Oculus. Like those two films, Before I Wake deals with family issues through a horror setting. This decade's best-child-actor Jacob Tremblay (Room, the Brie Larson one, not oh hai Mark!), is a troubled orphan who keeps moving from foster home to foster home. He's not a bad kid, he just has a bad gift. His dreams come to life. This can bring happiness - such as ethereal, brightly colored versions of his favorite animal the butterfly - but with a dark edge underneath. There is an element of the monkey's paw. His dreams allow his new family (Thomas Jane and Kate Bosworth) to see their deceased son (Thomas Jane, again, "just wants his kids back"), but only in the one repeated memory Tremblay can see. As to be expected, there is an evil below it all corrupting it all. This being the thankfully-practical Canker Man.

Usually, when a film is shelved for so long, it's a stinker. While Before I Wake isn't as strong as it's Flanagan brethren, it's a solid film. Although many will approach as a horror film, the supernatural is to build the family drama at the core. That doesn't mean the scares aren't well done, there is a fantastic look to both the film on the whole and the horror sequences. The sense of unease pervades, even in the earlier, more innocent dream visions. Most importantly, we feel for the adoptive parents and child. The only real issue is the film is a little longer than the concept provides, there is a repetitiveness as those around Tremblay begin to figure what is happening; causing the film to have a lack of urgency.

Like all of Mike Flanagan's work, there is a respect for the audence of the film, allowing the characters and sequences to stand on their own, without unnessessary jump scares and stupid decisiouns in order to get a scream. Although not as good as the other Flanagan canon, Before I Wake is a film to stay up for.
B+… Expand

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bfoore90

Jan 11, 2018

Really good mystery/suspense with some great performances especially by Kate Bosworth, the only issue I have is you are left kind of disappointed by all the unanswered questions.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Huikk4poks

Jan 28, 2018

Before I Wake felt like a adults dark childhood story with a psychological edge. Mike Flanagan's best.

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Compi24

Jan 27, 2018

It's honestly a tragedy that this movie's release was as hamstrung by Relativity Media's bankruptcy as it was, because if "Before I Wake" proves anything, it's that Mike Flanagan continues to be one of the horror genre's foremost in creative thinkers and directors. From the undeniablyIt's honestly a tragedy that this movie's release was as hamstrung by Relativity Media's bankruptcy as it was, because if "Before I Wake" proves anything, it's that Mike Flanagan continues to be one of the horror genre's foremost in creative thinkers and directors. From the undeniably captivating premise, to the genuinely terrifying subject matter, or the film's immensely satisfying climax, there's a whole lot to enjoy. Definitely one for the "underrated" category, that's for sure.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

annbd

Oct 20, 2018

Sweet child - 3 points, cool butterflies - 1 point. Such fail, much disappointing. :D

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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