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Dream Lover

Play trailer Poster for Dream Lover R Released Jan 9, 1994 1h 43m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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57% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 39% 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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Dream Lover

Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Martin R Started out interesting- but degenerates into Hollywood sadistic garbage. People have sex; get money; and backstab each other. The best backstabber is the person to respect. Especially if he/ she has style. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Alain E This is a specific interest movie for people who appreciate David Lynch’s Blue Velvet or Secretary also with James Spader. The adherents to family values and conventional storytelling will be sorely disappointed. It is very well photographed and acted. Madchen Amick is superb in her role of a female weapon of mass destruction. Her character illustrates a typical psychopath: a person whose only intent is to obtain maximal pleasure at the expense of everyone around them. The end is violent but not unjustified. It is very interesting that fashion big names chose to associate with a movie that many reviewers gave half a star! Harry Winston, Prada, Donna Karan, Breitling, Ann Klein and La Perla, to mention the most well known. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/16/25 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Dream Lover

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Movie Info

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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