MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Dreams’--Not Quite a Nightmare

“Bad Dreams” is a mildly diverting horror flick that marks the feature directorial debut of Andrew Fleming, a prize-winning cinema major at New York University. Alas, this Fox release isn’t likely to win any more awards for Fleming, who had a hand in the script. “Bad Dreams” is not truly terrible; it’s just not very exciting or original.

Lovely Jennifer Rubin stars as Cynthia, the sole survivor of a cult whose members committed suicide by fire. She awakens from a 13-year-long coma to find herself in a mental institution, run by Harris Yulin.

Initially amnesiac, Cynthia is soon flooded with nightmares in which she not only relives the conflagration but is also menaced by Harris (Richard Lynch), the cult’s demonic leader who died in the fire himself. Pretty soon the members of Jennifer’s therapy group start dying off in grisly fashion, leaving us to wonder whether they’re victims of Harris’ beyond-the-grave powers or of some other crazed killer.

“Bad Dreams” alternates smoothly between Cynthia’s recurrent nightmares and the new horrors that threaten to engulf her. Attempting to save Cynthia’s sanity is a young psychiatrist played by Bruce Abbott.

More effective than the principals, however, are Susan Ruttan as a middle-aged journalist with suicidal tendencies who tries to befriend Cynthia, and Dean Cameron as a young man as witty and brilliant as he is unstable. “Bad Dreams’ ” R rating should be respected: The gore is too much for the squeamish and the very young.

‘BAD DREAMS’

A 20th Century Fox presentation. Producer Gale Anne Hurd. Director Andrew Fleming. Screenplay Fleming, Steven E. de Souza; based on a story by Fleming, Michael Dick, Yuri Zeltser and P. J. Pettiette. Camera Alexander Gruszynski. Music Jay Ferguson. Production designer Ivo Cristante. Costumes Deborah Everton. Stunt coordinator Tony Cecere. Film editor Jeff Freeman. With Jennifer Rubin, Bruce Abbott, Richard Lynch, Dean Cameron, Harris Yulin, Susan Barnes, John Scott Clough, E. G. Daily, Damita Jo Freeman, Louis Giambalvo, Susan Ruttan.

Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes.

MPAA-rated: R (under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian).