Dream Scenario is one of those movies that gets released and its message is so well said, that everyone thinks it’s a masterpiece. It probably is. Primarily about the rise and rise of fame, Dream Scenario overly explains its most prominent themes like social media trends, the Mandela effect, and hive mind mentality. But what goes up must come down. This is where Dream Scenario truly shines at providing a bird’s eye view of falling from grace in the public eye. At the same time, there are giant chunks of deliberately missing explanations too. One glaringly obvious pain point is the ending of Dream Scenario. If you know, you know.
The story starts with pure intel on Paul as he rakes leaves while his daughter sits nearby. The sky opens up and a set of keys with a frog keyring is shown to have been the cause of some glass getting smashed out of a nearby outdoor table. There are gigantic hints that something apocalyptic is happening (or tiny keyring-sized hints depending on how you look at it.)
Public Perception
Everything about the opening act will make you think of Ari Aster. However, if you’ve seen writer-director Kristoffer Borgli’s “Sick of Myself” it’s easy to say these two filmmakers are a marriage made in heaven. Dream Scenario is a wild ride that supplies just enough ammunition that you’ll still think about it days later.
Paul is the ultimate next-level everyman. Instead of being a washed-up single has-been like many Mr Nobody’s in cinema are, Paul is a tenured professor with a keen interest in evolutionary biology. He talks to his wife about a long-standing grievance he has with an old colleague he is about to meet up with. What his situation turns out to be though is that this is the first example we have of Paul’s life ethos. He is a man who “does nothing.”
It’s important to note, that Paul never believes he is someone who does nothing in reality. He yearns to get credit for his life’s work. However, his university friends don’t invite him to their regular dinners, his kids think he’s boring and his wife mostly dishes up a side of disdain with their everyday banter. Paul is slightly all talk and no action and everyone seems to know it except him.
Global Phenonemon
In the first instance of people dreaming about Paul, we see his ex-girlfriend describe what went down. Her scenario involves perilous danger which Paul witnesses and doesn’t react to or intervene. In her dream Paul simply stands by, effectively doing nothing. After telling her story, she requests to meet up with him in the hopes that whatever is lingering subconsciously between them can dissipate.
Paul is still reeling from the fact that his ex-girlfriend is randomly dreaming about him and the book he thought about writing was written by someone else. But things are about to get weirder. As he arrives at school for class, he overhears students in the hallway talking about dreaming about him as well. Suddenly people from all over the world recognise how great Paul is. Not just Paul. And he couldn’t be more thrilled.
Cage, and his status as a hit-and-miss completely beloved actor whether hitting or missing carries this role like no other could. Dream Scenario handles the idea of accidental fandom with a certain twisted methodology. Paul’s downward spiral from a revered public figure to a feared and hated man gains traction soon after.
The title shifts gears and pursues violence and Paul is dropped unceremoniously from a throne he never really earned into a reality he never deserved. In this concept, how we view celebrities gets served up in a Paul-shaped bowl. Like a manifestation of a story from Black Mirror, Paul’s imagined sins are seen by the public as unforgivable crimes.
Dream Scenario spits out coined terminology from the realms of places like X, TikTok, and YouTube skimming over trends like cancel culture, trauma trending, and public apologies.
Not everything in this dream-conscious state of a film fits together perfectly. Sometimes it felt like a few too many fame and fandom-built notions were added to the recipe for it to turn out with no uncooked pieces.
Nevertheless, Dream Scenario is a must-watch for moviegoers that have a penchant for A24’s style of dark comedy. For those who want to watch a commentary on a social system and hierarchy built into a world that’s just as absurd in real life as it is in dreams.
Dream Scenario is rated
4 I love a drama movie with horror tropes out of 5
Instead of a Dream Scenario Trailer, Here’s Nic Cage Talking About His Role
If you are looking for a thorough explanation of the ending, check out IGN.com’s article that covers some of the more absurd moments.
“A predator has to decide who its intended target is”
Quote from Dream Scenario 2023
Dream Scenario Cast
Nicholas Cage has been nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as Paul. The casting department deserves a bonus for creating an ensemble of recognizable famous people that I’m sure some will relate to given the numerous hidden agendas within the storyline. If you’ve seen the film, most cinephiles will have rejoiced at the many famous faces. Some recognizable faces barely had a speaking part (I’m looking at you, Amber Midthunder.)
Here’s a list of Dream Scenario cast: Amber Midthunder, Nicholas Braun, Noah Centineo, Michael Cera, Jennifer Wigmore, Agape Mngomezulu, Tim Meadows, Dylan Baker, Nicolas Cage, Lily Bird.
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli.
Dream Scenario Streaming Options
Where to Watch Dream Scenario: Mother of Movies attended a private screening of Dream Scenario at Anjelika Cinema. The movie is not currently streaming but will hit theatres in Australia on January 21st, 2023.
Dream Scenario was released in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2023. In the USA, it had a limited release on the same date and is expected to begin streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime in late spring or early summer 2024. In Australia, the distribution will be handled by VVS Films, but the streaming release date is not specified.
