Before I Wake

Play trailer

1:26

Before I Wake

PG-13

2016

1h 37m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he's terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it's just a natural fear for any young child. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody's dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody's mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all.

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Beware this waking nightmare: Before I Wake isn't always lucid enough to escape its wobbly story, but crafts a neat horror landscape of grief.

Read Critics Reviews

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

AV Club

01/05/2018

B

Horror movies that exploit broad childhood phobias about bedtime lights-outs and basement chores are a dime a dozen, but it's really refreshing to find one made with a parent's curiosity and concern for a child's point of view.

Go to Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

01/05/2018

2.5/4

A flawed film, but there are elements that really work, especially the lead performance and some of Flanagan's gifts with composition.

Go to Full Review

Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

12/22/2017

3/4

Before I Wake's images have a pleasing straightforwardness that parallels the openness of the young protagonist's longing for love.

Go to Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

07/02/2021

Before I Wake is the ten millionth horror movie about parents mourning a dead child but it actually manages to grab ahold of that horror with two hands and shake the guts out of it at times

Go to Full Review

Emma Wolfe

SpookyAstronauts

04/30/2021

8/10

It was a really surprising mix of being super emotional and super freaky.

Go to Full Review

Alix Turner

Ready Steady Cut

01/27/2021

3.5/5

An atmospheric fantasy thriller about a young boy whose dreams come to life.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Bill T.

@btreakle Nov 24

“Before I Wake” is a movie about a young boy who’s adopted by a couple and possesses a special talent. This talent only manifests itself when the young boys a sleep and is dreaming and it later transforms into the the realm of the living. Film stars,Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane. This film is a supernatural film slash thriller it is very well done and directed. For all the supernatural fans out there and fans of movie thrillers this one’s for you I enjoyed it very much and I think this is a film that is suited for most all ages. As always parents discretion is advised.

See more

acsdoug D

@acsdoug Oct 12

Simply not very scary, and in between its attempts at being scary the film is just plain sappy.

See more

k J.

@pookiepig Sep 7

Would have been 5 stars if the mom stfu she was so annoying they really should have re- casted or killed her off within the first 10 minutes every time she opened her mouth I let out a audible groan waiting for the next dumb thing she would say.

See more

John W

Aug 17

I enjoyed the film. It is well acted, the story is beautifully told, and the variety of moods throughout the film was very good. It creates some scary moments and has a few really good jump scares, but also a few effects that are a bit over the top and therefore less scary. There were also weaker moments in the plot, but overall it was really convincing.

See more

Waniya S

Aug 16

It has a great premise if the no is falls short on expressing true depth of emotions.

See more

Iamwhoi M

Jun 8

Interesting premise. I thought the movie was going downhill; but I like the thoufhtful way it was resolved in the end. Worth watching.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Mike Flanagan

Director

Kate Bosworth

Jessie

Thomas Jane

Mark

Annabeth Gish

Natalie

Dash Mihok

Whelan

Jacob Tremblay

Cody

The Bye Bye Man

19%

22%

The Bye Bye Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Bye Bye Man

The Darkness

3%

19%

The Darkness

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Darkness

Lights Out

74%

61%

Lights Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Lights Out

The Boy

31%

38%

The Boy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Boy

Incarnate

18%

24%

Incarnate

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Incarnate

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Before I Wake: Trailer 2

1:26

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he's terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it's just a natural fear for any young child. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody's dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody's mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all.

Director: Mike Flanagan
Producer: Trevor Macy, Sam Englebardt, William D. Johnson
Screenwriter: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Production Co: Intrepid Pictures, MICA Entertainment, Demarest Films
Rating: PG-13 (Violent Content|Terror|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 5, 2018
Runtime: 1h 37m

Most Popular at Home Now