Monday Matinee: Dream House (2011)

As you all know, I love a good spook fest and I love Daniel Craig,   Thus, I have had my eye on "Dream House" since it was featured in Entertainment Weekly ages ago.  I didn't know much about it, but just that picture of the little girls gives you the creeps, no?


The story starts out innocently.  Will Atenton (Craig) quits his high profile editor job to move to the burbs and write a book.  This will allow him to spend more time with his gorgeous wife (Rachel Weisz, which is now married to Craig) and little girls, aged 5 and 7.  However, as they get settled in their new home, they learn that a brutal murder occurred there five years prior.  A wife and two girls were brutally murdered in the home, and popular opinion is that the heinous crime was committed by the father, who is now locked up in an asylum.

But then reality begins to become confused with conjecture, paranoia and urban legend.  As Will begins to research the crime that occurred in his home and piece together the puzzle, he becomes more confused.  The neighbor lady (Naomi Watts) is acting strange and suspicious.  What really happened five years ago?


First of all, let me just set this straight...this is not a horror flick, which is the way it was advertised.  I might call it a thriller.  A thriller that tries to be clever and twisty, but really just squeezes the last drop out of an overused trick...derivative of other, better movies that I shall not name.  

Even my 12 year-old son declared the ending "lame".  About an hour into the film, when you figure out where they are going, one is inclined to roll one's eyes and say "oh jeez, here we go again".  Despite all this, there is a scene or two that is devastating, and the cast is top-notch, keeping the whole thing from becoming a big hot mess.


Recommended for those with nothing else better to do, or for those who are willing to put up with mediocrity for the sake of some Daniel Craig.


3 out of 5 stars