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Mean Dreams

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for Mean Dreams R 2017 1h 45m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A 15-year-old boy steals a bag of drug money and runs away with the girl he loves. While her violent and corrupt cop father hunts them down, they embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
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Mean Dreams

Mean Dreams

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Critics Consensus

Mean Dreams enlivens its familiar premise with rich details, strong performances from a talented cast playing fully realized characters, and sensitive work from director Nathan Morlando.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed Observer 03/20/2017
3/4
Not a great film in the same vein as Badlands and Pretty Poison, but a very good one that is well worth seeing. Go to Full Review
Nick Allen RogerEbert.com 03/17/2017
1.5/4
One of those sparse projects where you wonder what excited the filmmakers through each stage of the production process, and why the answer to that question isn't more obvious. Go to Full Review
Tricia Olszewski TheWrap 03/16/2017
Son Lux's percussive and atonal score combined with the kids constantly looking over their shoulders lend their escapes a sense of immediacy and danger. Go to Full Review
Richard Crouse Richard Crouse 02/03/2021
3/5
Echoes of Badlands, Terrence Malick's tale of young love on the run, hang heavy over Mean Dreams. Go to Full Review
Jorge Ignacio Castillo The Canadian Crew 01/28/2020
2/5
Outside beautiful fall scenery, there nothing particularly moving about Mean Dreams... Go to Full Review
Angelo Muredda Cinema Scope 11/09/2017
Familiarity doesn't always yield tedium, but it's hard to muster much enthusiasm for Mean Dreams' sleepy regionalist remix of genre tropes and images. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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BadNews R @TheMovieSearch Sep 8 Hands down, Mean Dreams has just earned a spot in my top 10 favorite movies. Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy it at all—I knew nothing about the film and clicked on it by accident. But wow, was I wrong. The story follows a young man trapped under his father’s strict rules on a remote farm—his life is small, confined, and suffocating. When new neighbors move in—a police officer and his daughter—the story quickly becomes tense and unpredictable. The daughter carries a heavy trauma from the death of her mother, and as the truth behind it unfolds, the stakes become heartbreakingly high. What makes this film so gripping is the raw depiction of abuse and control. The daughter’s suffering is difficult to watch, but it sets the stage for a compelling story. The boy, who falls in love with her, wants nothing more than to help—but quickly finds himself targeted by a father whose power as a police officer becomes a weapon of manipulation, blackmail, and sabotage. The tension escalates beautifully as corruption runs deeper than expected—crooked law enforcement, betrayal, and a desperate crime lead to a cat-and-mouse chase where the kids must fight for survival. Every twist and turn keeps you on edge. Josh Wiggins delivers a phenomenal performance, bringing authenticity and raw emotion to his role. His portrayal elevates the film, proving once again that he’s a young actor who consistently delivers powerful performances. (Armor may not have been my favorite, but Wiggins has been solid across his projects.) Mean Dreams is a gritty, emotional thriller with heart, tension, and top-notch acting. If you enjoy movies that are thrilling, dark, and emotionally charged, this one is an absolute must-watch. See more Alain E @AlainE Dec 17 It had the potential to be an interesting movie, but ar present is a collection of cliches. Including the fact that the two adolescents escape through a forest at peak autumn leaves change. They of course magically can orient themselves among trees and more trees and reach their destination. If you like to watch visual recipes, this is a good choice. See more Gareth J 08/04/2024 Dont be put off by the low audience score, this is a cracking film with plenty to say. Taut and fast paced with lots of menace. Great turns by all the cast See more Scott W 05/27/2024 Great scenery. Cast too especially Paxton See more 12/27/2020 Not sure why the audience score is 59%, it was much better than that. Good plot, good character development, good writing, good acting. See more 09/27/2020 super suspenseful movie, loved the performances too, the young actors were phenomenal See more Read all reviews
Mean Dreams

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Movie Info

Synopsis A 15-year-old boy steals a bag of drug money and runs away with the girl he loves. While her violent and corrupt cop father hunts them down, they embark on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Director
Nathan Morlando
Producer
William Woods, Allison Black
Screenwriter
Kevin Coughlin, Ryan Grassby
Distributor
Vertical Entertainment
Production Co
Woods Entertainment, Vertical Entertainment
Rating
R (Some Violence and Language)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 17, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 18, 2017
Runtime
1h 45m
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