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In Dreams

Play trailer Poster for In Dreams R 1999 1h 44m Horror Drama Fantasy Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
26% Tomatometer 50 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
After clairvoyant Claire Cooper (Annette Bening) has a disturbing dream about the murder of a young girl, her daughter, Rebecca (Katie Sagona), is found dead in a lake. When the police dismiss Cooper's offers to help their investigation, she seeks treatment with therapist Silverman (Stephen Rea), who diagnoses her as emotionally disturbed. As Cooper's dreams become increasingly vivid, she grows concerned that she has developed a psychic link to serial killer Vivian Thompson (Robert Downey Jr.).
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In Dreams

In Dreams

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Some interesting visuals, but the movie is as confusing as a dream.

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Critics Reviews

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Emanuel Levy Variety 10/24/2006
C+
Ambitious but ultimately incoherent and frustrating tale that may be too cerebral for the horror genre crowds and too literal-minded for the genre's more intelligent viewers; lush visual style compensates only up to a point. Go to Full Review Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 01/01/2000
A memorably creepy and lyrical shocker full of spine-chilling scenes and moments! Go to Full Review Susan Stark Detroit News 01/01/2000
2/4
This routine fright factory employs the usual horror movie tactics. Go to Full Review Jason Shawhan Nashville Scene 12/16/2021
Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, The Good Thief) took an interesting but messy Bari Wood novel, Doll's Eyes, and turned it into one of the greatest thrillers of the '90s. Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 05/02/2014
4/5
Has a strange beauty, an intensely creepy atmosphere, and a grandly operatic feel. Go to Full Review Michael Dequina TheMovieReport.com 05/03/2009
1.5/4
In dreams, this film would be a chilling exercise in psychological horror; in reality, it's a fascinating folly. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Farah R @Farah 04/27/2025 In Dreams has an intriguing story that gets too caught up in its twists it becomes incoherent. Even the actors who give it their all don’t help it make any sense. See more Steve D @RT35616104 02/08/2023 Unsatisfying and often ridiculous. See more 03/11/2022 It has atmosphere but boy is it weird. I would love to get a copy of the novel it’s based on. See more tom m @RT96790832 01/10/2022 Meh. While I like Annette Bening this seemed like a role that did not let her talents shine. These days I'm not that appreciative of thrillers that are mostly about mind-fucking. See more 06/01/2021 Not really my kind of movie, but it was pretty good. Robert sells his role so well, as do the rest of the main cast. Everyone else falls a little flat though. I can't complain about the ending though. All around worth at least one watch. It's a slow pace movie, but filmed really nice. See more 04/19/2021 Visuals are great, dialogue is terrible and undeliverable - hence the terrible acting. The unbelievable plot could have been rendered less ridiculous with a script overhaul. See more Read all reviews
In Dreams

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Neil Jordan

Director

Annette Bening

Claire Cooper

Aidan Quinn

Paul Cooper

Robert Downey Jr.

Vivian Thompson

Paul Guilfoyle

Det. Jack Kay

Dennis Boutsikaris

Dr. Stevens

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In Dreams

In Dreams (1999) In Dreams (1999) In Dreams (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After clairvoyant Claire Cooper (Annette Bening) has a disturbing dream about the murder of a young girl, her daughter, Rebecca (Katie Sagona), is found dead in a lake. When the police dismiss Cooper's offers to help their investigation, she seeks treatment with therapist Silverman (Stephen Rea), who diagnoses her as emotionally disturbed. As Cooper's dreams become increasingly vivid, she grows concerned that she has developed a psychic link to serial killer Vivian Thompson (Robert Downey Jr.).
Director
Neil Jordan
Producer
Charles Burke, Stephen Woolley
Screenwriter
Bari Wood, Bruce Robinson, Neil Jordan
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, Red Feather Photoplays
Production Co
DreamWorks SKG, Amblin Entertainment
Rating
R
Genre
Horror, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 15, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 12, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$11.9M
Runtime
1h 44m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS, Dolby Digital