Dream Lover

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Dream Lover

R

Released Jan 9, 1994

1h 43m

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

38%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Not long after they cross paths at an art gallery, Ray Reardon (James Spader), an architect, and hypnotically sensual Lena (Madchen Amick) are married with children. Only then does Ray catch his wife in escalating lies, which lead him to find out that Lena's past is invented and that she has been manipulating him ever since their first chance meeting. In the ensuing turmoil, Lena ends up with Ray's money, and he winds up in an institution -- from which he plots his return and revenge.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Engagingly creepy thriller.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 27, 2005

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's the sensuous, deadly game of romantic cat-and-mouse that makes Dream Lover worth seeing.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Adam Lippe

Examiner.com

Eschewing his standard performance of smugness and distance, using intense, blank stares, Spader actually emotes with his lips too, suggesting that there's more going on than just a slimy scoundrel who we should pity because his livelihood is threatened.

Jul 15, 2012

Full Review

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Rated: 3/5

Oct 9, 2005

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jun 30, 2005

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

Rated: 2/5

Dec 22, 2004

Full Review

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Nicholas H

Hot off the heels of Twin Peaks, Mädchen Amick proves herself a competent drama actor in yet again another supporting role. She plays the typecast role of the psycho gold digger. James Spader delivers a slightly believable performance in his respective lead role. Though, it is hard to tell, after the 3/4 mark, who is really the lead actor. Written by the distinguished Nicholas Kazan, the film draws from the thrillers of the period, utilizing realism (beyond belief), with all of the campy hallmarks of a femme fatale psychodrama with a twist. Worth the watch, not worth remembering.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

Full Review

Michael B

Outstanding psychological thriller with a great cast and stunning villain. Far better than the ratings suggest.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/07/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

Two solid leads give great performances with such a unique story that I absolutely wish we had another 15 minutes left of the run time because sad to say the film last act while good was a bit to rushed to my liking.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/24

Full Review

Ray G

I really liked the directing of Nicholas Kazan. All acting was great, with James Spader really standing out in this performance. The story was a bit predictable, but interesting. I have to say that the film was pretty good, and is severely overlooked.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/24

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angela g

this James Spader movie was good except it has a unnecessary cliffhanger ending but its still a good movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

Toby B

There is no denying the absolute beauty of Madchin Amick and it's fun in a nostalgic way to revisit peak Spader. But my god this movie sucked. The funhouse carnival sequences are super doses of WTF. The entire film feels like an exercise in coldness and nonsense. You could park a Hummer in its plot holes.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

04/30/23

Full Review

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Nicholas Kazan

Director

James Spader

Ray Reardon

Mädchen Amick

Lena Mathers

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Elaine

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Synopsis

Not long after they cross paths at an art gallery, Ray Reardon (James Spader), an architect, and hypnotically sensual Lena (Madchen Amick) are married with children. Only then does Ray catch his wife in escalating lies, which lead him to find out that Lena's past is invented and that she has been manipulating him ever since their first chance meeting. In the ensuing turmoil, Lena ends up with Ray's money, and he winds up in an institution -- from which he plots his return and revenge.

Director: Nicholas Kazan
Producer: Lauren Lloyd, Wallis Nicita, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Screenwriter: Nicholas Kazan
Distributor: Polygram
Production Co: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 1994, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 3, 2018
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Dolby, Surround

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