Dreamcatcher **** (2003, Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee) – Classic Movie Review 919

Writer-producer-director Lawrence Kasdan’s 2003 screen adaptation (with William Goldman) of the Stephen King novel is brilliantly ambitious and imaginative. Dreamcatcher cleverly combines all King’s usual themes and plotlines. It’s a buddy-buddy flick, paranormal chiller and monster movie all wrapped into one scary epic chiller (136 classy minutes).

The yarn focuses on four joshing buddies – Jonesy (Damian Lewis), Henry (Thomas Jane), Pete (Timothy Olyphant) and Beaver (Jason Lee) – on a winter hunting trip in the Maine woods, flashing back to their boyhood when they rescue a bullied child, who gives them extra-sensory gifts.

Back in the woods, they meet a terrifying, slithery alien, who’s being pursued by psychotic Colonel Abraham Curtis (Morgan Freeman) and Lieutenant  Owen (Tom Sizemore).

Mixing black comedy and gross-out terror, it’s a splendid big-budget thriller chiller done with great panache. Dreamcatcher offers many pleasures, from the ideal acting to the marvellous photography by John Seale, super special effects and handsome, costly production.

Roy Orbison’s vintage hit song Blue Bayou figures strongly.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 919

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