Rated PG-13 for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language.
Starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts
Directed by Jim Sheridan (Brothers, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, The Boxer and In The Name Of The Father)
Dream House isn’t much of a horror/suspense movie and thanks to the trailer; there isn’t much of a mystery either.
Successful publisher Will Atenton (Craig) quit a high power job in Manhattan to relocate his wife, Libby (Weisz), and two girls to a quaint New England town. But as they settle into their new life, they discover their perfect home was the murder scene of a mother and her children. And the entire city believes it was at the hands of the husband who survived. When Will investigates, he’s not sure if he’s starting to see ghosts or if the tragic story is just hitting too close to home. His only clues come from Ann Paterson (Watts), a mysterious neighbor who knew those who were shot. And as Will and Ann piece together the haunting puzzle, they must find out who murdered the family in Will’s dream house before he returns to kill again.
I’ve complained before about trailers that give away too much of the story. But this trailer was so bad it would be like The Sixth Sense trailer revealing that Bruce Willis was a ghost. I would apologize to anyone who has not yet seen The Sixth Sense, but that was over a decade ago. Not only do we know just about everything that will happen in the film, everything that does happen is flat and cliché. We actually hear, “There’s something wrong with this house.”
I’m a big fan of Daniel Craig and was so hopeful that there was more to this film than the trailer showed – but there wasn’t.
The biggest mystery is trying to figure out why Universal Studios paid an Oscar winner (Rachel Weisz), two Oscar nominees (Naomi Watts and director Jim Sheridan) and the current 007 star (Craig) to make a movie that they had no intention of ever supporting.
Rumor had it that Dream House was radically reworked after test audiences slammed it, and that neither director Sheridan nor his actors are happy about the results. I guess we can all agree on that…I say Skip It.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is some violence and disturbing images, but nothing too graphic. There is one f-word.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: In the film, Will’s neighbor Ann Patterson shows him a great deal of kindness. When others are harassing him and even having satanic type rituals in his basement. Everyone thinks Will is a dangerous killer but Ann befriends him, even letting him into her house.
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: We are told in Jeremiah 31:3 that The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
What do you think everlasting love looks like?
Discuss what unfailing kindness would look like in your school?
I understand that it is not always easy to show love and kindness, but listen to Paul’s words in Colossians 3:12-1 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
According to this verse, what is the one thing we need to keep in mind to help up show love and kindness?
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: Are there kids in your school who are outcasts like Will was in this movie?
What are some ways we can show love and kindness to them?
