Dream Scenario

It might be a bit of an easy description to label a film as being 'Black Mirror-esque' but it’s such an apt descriptor for those thoughtful and challenging bits of pseudo-sci-fi we’ve been seeing a lot of recently.

Dream Scenario perfectly fits this new ‘genre’ and is a wildly original, thought-provoking and nigh-on spot-on tragicomic tale of cancel culture, social media fame, virality and our desperate need for attention.

Another A24 masterclass, this sees an awards-worthy Nicholas Cage as a bit of a ‘loser/nobody’ university professor who, inexplicably, starts turning up in people’s dreams.

The film isn’t interested in the ‘why’ of that scenario but only in the repercussions and realities of this predicament/blessing/curse.

As a man who feels undervalued, over-the-hill and unseen, Cage’s Paul Matthews leaps at the chance to jump into the rarefied air of celebrity but the very nature of his situation gives him zero control and when, inevitably, those dreams turn into nightmares the cancel culture shadow of fame looms over him.

It’s told with grace, ingenuity, visual flair and pathos, towing the line just so to allow the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

Paul isn’t necessarily a likeable, ‘root for him’ character but Cage does just enough to give him pity and understanding in amongst the narcissism. It’s a truly excellent performance and it’s certainly a ‘debate afterwards’ movie in the best sense.

A true original and yet another shining light in A24’s already stacked cluster.

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