Product Details

• Actors: Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant
• Directors: Lawrence Kasdan
• Writers: Lawrence Kasdan, Stephen King, William Goldman
• Producers: Bruce Berman, Casey Grant, Charles Okun, Elizabeth Dollarhide
• Format: Color, Dolby, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Spanish
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: September 30, 2003
• Run Time: 134 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (242 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000AMRUO
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #657,149 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Regardless of its critical roasting, Dreamcatcher is a must-see for Stephen King fans. In adapting King's epic novel (itself an amalgam of familiar King plotlines), director Lawrence Kasdan and cowriter William Goldman sacrificed much of the character depth that gave the story its crucial humanity, resulting in a tame frightfest about four longtime friends (Damian Lewis, Jason Lee, Thomas Jane, Timothy Olyphant) whose past--and a shared gift of telepathy--connects them to a present-day alien invasion in the snowy forests of Maine. Like an ambitious episode of The X-Files, this slick production offers slimy "weasels" that gestate in human bowels; ominous aliens who seize control of bodies and minds; a secret military strike (led by Morgan Freeman) against the invaders; and enough gross-out humor to satisfy jaded horror buffs. Unfortunately, it just isn't scary. Despite its A-list advantages, Dreamcatcher works best as a glorified B-movie, likely to benefit from lowered expectations. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

Four young friends perform a heroic act and are changed forever by the uncanny powers they gain in return. Years later, on a hunting trip in the Maine woods, they are overtaken by a blizzard, a vicious storm in which something much more ominous moves. Challenged to stop a deadly alien force, they confront an unparalleled horror, with the fate of the world in the balance.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strangely , very appealing, January 18, 2006

By 

doppelganger "dvd-archive" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dreamcatcher (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

There's just a cozy feeling to it. It's a constantly white-out snowing, Stephen King style, humor mixed with gore, great movie. And, I even like the story. Okay, it's not Great-Great, but really good. Especially when you have to stay inside (snow, flu, broken leg etc.).

Regardless, it's definitely worth a look. I never met anyone who just hated it. And if you don't love it, you'll probably just be glad to have seen it and move on to your next scary/funny, sunday/rainy movie.

But again, this is one of my favorite movies for some strange reason. Everybody's got a few of those, so I know you'll understand.

AND, you might want to buy it now, they're not producing this edition anymore and I already can't find it in a retail store.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dreamcatcher - A great movie I disagree with the naysayers, November 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Dreamcatcher (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

I completely disagree with the majority of the reviewers who didn't like this movie. I was held in suspense during the entire movie right up until the end. Many have found fault with certain "impossibilities" or logical flaws in the movie, but come on if you're going to watch a movie about telepathy and aliens how can you possibly start picking apart minute flaws? How can you accept an alien attack and mental telepathy yet complain about an alien British accent. Give me a break. Obviously the purpose of the British accent was to differentiate between Jonesy and Mr. Gray. A little weird maybe but give the director some slack. It seems like too many reviewers spent the entire time looking for flaws instead of letting themselves become wrapped up in the movie.

I thought the blizzard setting added a nice eerie, doom foreboding touch to a very suspenseful movie. I really enjoyed the way that the suspense was slowly, patiently and convincingly built throughout. When Jonesy found the lost hunter/farter you could feel that something was going to go wrong. Later when the car flipped, you really knew things were getting bad. The aliens coming out of the toilet and munching on the fingers and later body of the "glasses guy" made me jump.

I also felt that the film's use of flashbacks was a great technique for heightening the interest and filling in prior knowledge. The flashbacks were much more interesting than say just coming out from the beginning and explaining the clairvoyant aspects of the 4 main characters, and Duddys. As the plot progressed we began to fully understand what their powers were and how they came to possess them. The military portion/concept was perhaps a little clunky but necessary for the advancement of the plot. The plot was so interesting that I was able to forgive the slight clunkiness. The 4 characters were likable which made me want to root for them, and find out exactly what the connection between their telepathy and the alien invasion was. I even liked the ending. Step on the worm, and end the flick. No cheesy wrap-ups of the plot, no dragging it out. Basically I was thoroughly entertained during the entire movie probably because I came into the movie with a suspension of disbelief. With this kind of movie how could you not? If you can't have suspension of disbelief for science fiction/fantasy/horror maybe you should pick another film genre.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Another horror/psychological/science fiction/thriller mix that almost works great but falls short, December 28, 2005

By 

J. Cavacini "cuddler of underdogs" (Coplay, PA Corporate States of America) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dreamcatcher (Widescreen Edition) (DVD)

Dreamcatcher's first half is the best. It has the character interaction that is trademark of King's writing and the cast was chosen (and performed) well. The second half was "science fiction neat," offering an action-based, and clearly established backstory (barely discussed) to the conflict between the invaders and the government, but it disrupts the psychological and personal mood set up in the first half. Ultimately, the fun/neat science fiction portion fails to deliver its apex in the way that you are lead to expect as it quickly ducks back into being a more psychological and personal story about the core people.

Low Points:

- Poor resolution between character conflicts in the military side. Even Sizemore complained about that in some behind the scenes stuff (i'm trying not to spoil).

- Science fiction moments that are more a really well done tease than a complete offering to science fiction fans.

- Not really scarey, but that's not a requirement for everyone.

High Points:

- Morgan Freeman and Tom Sizemore in what is a nice reversal of their usual type casting (i hate typecasting and love to see people turn on theirs and applaud casting agents and directors who choose to do so).

- Great visual effects

- Humor and horror combined well as often with King's material and the cast involved.

- Fantastic cast.

- The science fiction tease that hints at a HUGE and ongoing back story, which makes the overall film feel bigger than it really is. A three or four hour miniseries might have covered this better. i am getting the book, just in curiosity.

- A great score. The music combines creepy, science fiction and fairytale in an unobtrusive manner at moments (and i didn't notice much more than the excellent theme, so i count that as a good score if it leaves me remembering liking it... sort of).

- Beautiful cinematography, in my opinion. Visual effects moments mix well with the lovely snow landscape.

Overall, if you enjoy horror and science fiction crossovers that aren't outright tricks (like Event Horizon), and if you're a relatively forgiving film enthusiast who does not expect everything to meet your ideals, this movie will entertain and amuse you and maybe find a space on your shelf for future reviewing. i'm struggling with the idea of buying it myself. i seem to have a knack for liking the underdogs. The ones with great elements but which fail to maintain or deliver throughout. It seems to be my trademark...