Bad Dreams (1988)

From The Director Of THE CRAFT The Screenwriter Of DIE HARD & The Producer Of THE TERMINATOR In the mid-70s the members of the love cult Unity Fields sought the ultimate joining by dousing themselves with gasoline and committing mass suicide. A young girl blown clear of the fiery explosion was the only survivor. Thirteen years later Cynthia (Jennifer Rubin of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3) awakens from a coma inside a psychiatric hospital with only buried memories of that horrific day. But now her fellow patients are each being driven to their own violent suicides. Has the sect s hideously burned leader (Richard Lynch) returned to claim his final child or is something even more depraved lurking within her BAD DREAMS? Bruce Abbott (RE-ANIMATOR) Harris Yulin (SCARFACE) E.G. Daily (THE DEVIL S REJECTS) and Dean Cameron (SUMMER SCHOOL) co-star in this intense horror shocker directed by Andrew Fleming (THE CRAFT DICK) co-written by Steven de Souza (DIE HARD 48 HRS) and produced by Gale Anne Hurd (ARMAGEDDON T2). System Requirements:Running Time 84 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 013131309294 Manufacturer No: DV13092 Product Description

a good dream for horror fans

Well anyone out there who loves a great old horror film need not look further than bad dreams. A well scripted horror film made by great production company and a great director in Andrew flemming.
This is a sleeper of a horror missed by many but a must have in any horror collection along side great horrors such as Near dark, Vamp, the Third Exorcist film, the burning and Rosemarys killer that many horror fans may have missed.
If you liked Elm st 3 you will love this title
July 14, 2008

Actually quite interesting...

For a movie that doesn't have any 'major' stars in it, Bad Dreams is actually quite well acted & made. The storyline is a little more original than most 1980s horror movies; it involves a psychopathic cult leader (played by Richard Lynch) who ordered a suicide by fire. Only one woman - Cynthia (Jennifer Rubin) survives, and 13 years after the suicides she wakes up from a coma. Unfortunately, the ghost of Harris - the cult leader - begins to appear, and several of her fellow patients die terrible deaths. Cynthia must find a way to stop him before he strikes again...

Richard Lynch - known for playing villains - is especially good as the diabolical psychopath Harris, leader of Unity Fields and the monster behind the mass suicide. Jennifer Rubin as sole survivor Cynthia and Harris Yulin as a psychiatrist also turn in fine performances.

In addition to the trailer this DVD also has some interesting behind-the-scenes features. About time this one was released! October 21, 2007

Bad Dreams - good viewing!

I'm a horror buff from way, way back. And every so often I feel the need to revisit some of the movies from my scare ladden youth, and the film Bad Dreams didn't disappoint. Okay, because its the early eighties and my memory isn't what it was, I wasn't expecting much. But you know Bad Dreams stacks up pretty well against the over-the-top gore films of today. It has a plot, it has blood, it has your damsel in distress, and it has a very cute doctor. So yeah, I'm gonna stick my neck out on this one and say see it, its aged well.
P.S. My three stars is actually three and a half! January 25, 2007

Not a Nightmare on Elm Street Rip Off.

I bought this movie after seeing the trailer on another Anchor Bay release, Cemetery Man. I knew I would have to buy it, just because it looked like it was right up my alley. After buying and watching it, I was very pleased. However, I have a feeling that I saw this movie a billion years ago on HBO, but just don't remember it.

As for the movie itself, well I love 80's horror movies. Which are different than horror movies, a horror movie is creepy, yet timeless and not dated. Now Bad Dreams has all the wonderful aspects of an 80's horror flick: bloods, dummies, profanity, creepy music, dark elements, questionable editing and dubious acting. The one keystone aspect missing is nudity, which is a staple in 80's horror. But in the case of Bad Dreams, I will forgive. Now is this movie the best movie in the world? No. Did the movie run a little too long? Yes, 15 minutes could have been shaved off. Is the acting top notch? No, but it isn't horrible either. In fact some scenes are pretty good. The thing about the movie that I enjoyed so much was the smoke screens it put up. It appears like it is going to be a Nightmare on Elm Street type of movie. With Richard Lynch's character being another Freddy Kruger. Now in some ways that is the case, but ultimately it isn't. The story line has a couple of twist, which is what gives this movie some character. I also liked the fact there was some focus on Borderline Personality Disorder. Having some experience with BPD, I thought it was interesting that a movie addressed it by its official name. Even though there were some liberties taken with the Disorder.

I also loved Chainsaw (I believe that was his character's name) from Summer School. His performance in Bad Dreams was great, in a B movie sort of way. I also love how the lead female characters in horror movies are always attractive. Jennifer Rubin fits the paradigm perfectly in this film. I digress in saying I love 80's horror movies. Dualism is the notion in describing these flicks, being both precarious and (unintentionally) hilarious. Bad Dreams is a reminder, for better or worse, they don't make horror movies like they use to. I personal lean towards the latter.

As for this movie being dated, I would have to say yes. The main reason was Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses was played during the end credits, which seemed totally out of place in this movie. Also totally dating the movie eternally in the 1980's.
January 17, 2007

Bad Dreams an original film.

I suppose this movie would have to be classified as a horror/thriller. It has plenty of thrills and manages to keep one on the edge of his seat. Jennifer Rubin and Bruce Abbott have plenty of onscreen chemistry and both their characters' relationship can be quite touching at times, particularly at the end of the film. Richard Lynch is absolutely perfect as the David Koresh-like Harris, who leads his devout, yet very confused followers, to their flaming deaths. It's the seventies clashing with the eighties as Cynthia (Jennifer Rubin) wakes up from a thirteen year coma in a psychiatric facility she was brought to back in 1973. I won't tell you the rest, I wouldn't want to give the plot away. I'll tell you this, for an eighties flick, Bad Dreams is certainly original. I loved it and I'm sure many of you out there will enjoy this one as well. See it for yourselves, you won't be sorry. August 9, 2006

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