Dream house markets itself as a “suspense thriller”, but it’s actually a horror movie (grisly bits included), murder mystery, haunted house film and an exploration of insanity all in one. If that sounds good, you’ll be disappointed.
The film begins in wintery kitsch as an editor and his painterly wife played by Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz decide to move to the suburbs to raise their family. “Family” consists of two young daughters who are eerily reminiscent of adorable versions of the twins from The Shining. Their dream house very quickly turns into a living nightmare, as it becomes clear that their home was recently the scene of a horrific murder and signs of the previous occupants begin to reveal themselves. So far, so predictable. Craig and Weisz are however excellent in the first hour of the film, and their relationship does create interest – so it is a shame that director Jim Sheridan seems to have decided things were getting a little slack at this point. The inevitable twists happen at a lightning pace, marginalise Weisz and Craig’s screen time together and lead towards a confusing and unsatisfying ending, trademarks of a plot that can’t work out where it’s going.
2 stars