Dream House

Release Date: Sep 30, 2011 

Runtime: 1 hr. 31 min. 

Director: Jim Sheridan 

Cast: Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz, Elias Koteas, Marton Csokas.

 

You can't always judge a book by its cover; and lesson learned here, you can't with a trailer, as well. From Academy Award nominated director Jim Sheridan, "Dream House" tells the story of a family who moves into a house, only to find that not all is what it seems. And if the plot doesn't already sound formulaic enough, the marketing ploy fairs no better. Regardless of its creepy poster and horror angle, the film is anything but that, and disappoints even before it begins. Having revealed the twist in the trailer, the rest of the story is far from compelling, and is devoid of any scares that would make this remotely a thriller. This isn't for lack of trying by its cast of stars. Daniel Craig plays the troubled victim well, with his blue-steel gaze and hardened exterior. But such a film seems unwarranted to be needing such big-named actors when they don't contribute much to the story. Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz are easily forgettable if it weren't for their names displayed prominently across the placard. And Sheridan himself seems less than convinced if he's currently bidding to have his name removed entirely. With a film begrudgingly titled "Dream House," it's rightly in need of some refurbishing.

Rating: 1 star