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 33 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Ratings

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Before I Wake (Trailer 1)

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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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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

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

meydianarizki21

Oct 29, 2020

Original, Beautiful Film- Not What You Expect

Rarely does a film surprise me at all but this film certainly did. Mike Flannigan created an enigmatic speculative on childhood love, loss, fear and death that is both uniquely interpretive and otherworldly fantastical. For those who go intoOriginal, Beautiful Film- Not What You Expect

Rarely does a film surprise me at all but this film certainly did. Mike Flannigan created an enigmatic speculative on childhood love, loss, fear and death that is both uniquely interpretive and otherworldly fantastical. For those who go into this film anticipating a run-of-the-mill horror film with gruesome effects and bloody deaths, you will be exceedingly disappointed. This film is provocative in that it makes you think and feel throughout. It is at times vastly uncomfortable, but magnificently redemptive. What it achieves is a rare feat- one I would classify more in the realm of Pan's Labyrinth than something like The Ring. What it suffers from is completely misdirected and misleading marketing which has done this gem a huge disservice.

I'd watch it again. I'd recommend it to friends. Refrain from judging it based on the posters or the trailer. It's far greater than it's packaging and will probably be better received by audiences who expect more substance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Hugi09

Aug 4, 2019

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MinecraftNolan2

Jul 14, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Was an amazing and sweet movie but at the end when the spoiler alert: dad does't come back and stays with Sean is when I was confused. I might've not known very well of what was happening but this movie has some of these moments in it as well not just that one. I do like the sweetness and horror in this movie so i give it a 9.7/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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.

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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