Dreams that materialize in reality, especially nightmares, are a simple but inexhaustible and relentless idea for horror movie creators. The new film project of the author of “Oculus” - the horror “Somnia” (2016) as a whole coped with the task of converting this idea into an interesting film.
Arthouse of the world of horror
Horror films are a fairly conservative movie genre, so much so that any attempt by the director to innovate can lead to tape failure, depressing box office and terrible reviews from critics. Fortunately, a similar fate passed the film "Somnia", reviews, comments about which were written mainly in a positive way. The rating of the film according to IMDb is 6.10, which is an order of magnitude higher than the average rating of horror.
The director and co-author of the script is the famous Mike Flanegan, which in itself can act as a guarantor of quality. Reviews of the film "Somnia", compiled by film industry experts, argue that while watching the viewer will encounter something atypical, iconic. Horror is positioned by them as an arthouse of the horror universe, the creator of which goes his own way in defiance of the approved brand. However, individual reviewers, instead of praising the creator for his courage, unconventional approach and well-adjusted script, criticized Flanegan's creation to the smithereens. Therefore, it is worth noting that the horror film "Somnia" reviews are diametrically opposed - from admiring to cynical.
Care for pacifism
Film critics who view the picture strictly as a straightforward horror and their reviews of the film “Somnia” released exclusively in a negative way, assuring the viewer that viewing the project would surely disappoint them. Indeed, despite the fact that the tape formally contains all the components of the genre - a frightening monster, an abundance of impressive "bu" moments, children with terrifying empty eye sockets - but the farther in timing, the more obvious the tape turns into a different perspective. And the main tool in the fight against the forces of darkness are not the usual ancient relics or spells, but humility, understanding and love. It is this, according to experts, that destroys the entire external effectiveness of the climax of history.
Mystical Drama
Fans of Mike Flanegan’s creativity appeal to this by saying that this author’s technique - a sort of “withdrawal into pacifism”, does not ruin the project, on the contrary, makes it stronger. Composing reviews and reviews of the film “Somnia,” they describe the director’s innovation from a different angle: after an hour of a somewhat cliched, but undoubtedly spectacular action, the narrative dramatically changes the vector, turning into a story about children's complexes, sacred secrets and parental love. From the concept of the blood-chilling horror "Somnia" develops into a gloomy, but at the same time touching drama with a mystical component.
Short storyline
The main character of the film - Cody (Jacob Tremblay), despite his young age, experienced a lot: his parents died, the first guardians soon refused him, the second disappeared without a trace. Third applicants for adoption Jesse (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane), who have not fully recovered from the loss of their only son, become his adoptive parents. The couple hopes to start from scratch. But it soon becomes clear that the adopted child has an amazing gift - his dreams unfathomably materialize. At first, it seems to a young couple beautiful, children's fantasies, bright and bright, combining the beauty of butterflies and the colorfulness of fireflies. But soon Jesse succumbs to the temptation and begins to use the gift of an orphan in order to see her dead son. After which Cody begins to dream of terrible nightmares that end the same way - a terrifying monster Krakmen arrives. This is the description of the plot of the horror "Somnia" (2016). Reviews of the film, detailing the plot narrative, emphasize its secondary nature, some accuse the author of borrowing well-known ideas.
Acting Ensemble
Reviews of the film "Somnia" are only formally the stars of the picture are called Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane. The last in the frame is not so much, he basically "plays with charisma." Kate Bosworth is certainly good, demonstrates excellent acting talent, but she is overshadowed by the small actor Jacob Tremblay. He starred in “Somnia” even before participating in the Oscar-winning “Room”, but even then it was clear that a movie star of the first magnitude could grow out of a young talent.
American actress and fashion model Kate Bosworth began her film career in 1998 with the movie “The Horse Whisperer” by Robert Redford. She is known to the viewer as a participant in the following paintings: “Superman Returns”, “The Last Frontier”, “Movie 43”.
Thomas Jane managed to prove himself in many roles - a television and film actor, producer, director, film playwright. He was nominated three times for the Golden Globe. Best known for his films The Deep Blue Sea, The Darkness, The Temptation, and Bloody Thursday.
Jacob Trumble, a Canadian young actor, made his debut in the television movie Smurfs 2. Currently, his filmography includes 15 film projects, the most famous of which are considered to be the "Room", "The Last Man on Earth" and "Somnia".
Almost hitchcock
Whatever the reviews of the film “Doubt”, Mike Flanegan can not only invent various otherworldly misfortunes, but also study them in detail, consider the reaction of the characters to the appearance of monsters from the point of view of human psychology. In this project, he seeks in Hitchcock style to find and present to the viewer an explanation of all the secrets of the phenomena of the human psyche. The director intentionally reduces all discussions about the mechanisms of the formation of dreams to a simple chain "stimulus - reaction." Such an author’s approach at the climax leads the viewer to the final message, which says that you need to learn how to face your fear. This undoubtedly frustrates the beholders. It turns out such a family movie with a therapeutic effect. He is facilitated by the excellent musical accompaniment of Danny Elfman, who, according to the recognition of the film community, also does not fit in with the idea of a traditional horror.