Dreamaniac (1986)
Directed by David DeCoteau
After the popularity of A Nightmare on Elm Street, the slasher genre had a brief obsession with dream related killers. Dreamaniac, is somewhat like that? There are dreams, yes but are they super important? Not entirely. Also, at this time there was a flood of straight to video slashers, this movie checks both of the boxes. Is it good? I’m sure you can guess haha.
Dreamaniac is about a heavy metal musician that makes a deal with a satanic succubus to make him successful with women, in return the succubus gets to feed on the girls. I guess that’s the story? I’m not quite sure because this movie was so scattered in its approach. The dreams we have are quite odd. The main character Adam gets seduced by the succubus at the beginning and she starts showing up in reality throughout the film. Adam’s girlfriend Pat helps her sister Jodi throw a party so she can get into a sorority. They have the party in a secluded house that Adam is house sitting, at least I think that’s it. People show up, people get killed, the succubus murders a bunch and the survivors have to destroy her. It is your basic run of the mill slasher with a supernatural twist.
I think where the movie shines is the acting. Not because it is good, but because it is so bad. How bad? Well let’s just say that I’ve seen around 150 slasher movies, from the best to the crappy and Dreamaniac might take the cake for bad acting. Seriously! Here is a quote for you guys, and remember this isn’t a comedy at all:
Francis: Nice outfit.
Pat: Do I know you?
Francis: Pfff, I doubt it. I’ve gone to private schools all my life and I’m rich as shit.
Pat: Oh, that’s right. You’re Francis. I thought I recognized those small tits.
Yeah after that line, I got on IMDB and had to check if this movie was also categorized under Comedy, it is not. All the acting is wooden. Pat is probably the best of the bunch, but that’s like being the fastest snail in a race. The worst actor? A character named Rosie. Rosie is your stereotypical Valley Girl. She’s a complete dolt and has to throw in “like” a lot. Want a taste of her acting chops? Well here’s another quote for you guys:
Rosie: Ahem, sorry to interrupt “kissy face,” but like where’s the phone?
Jodi: Oh, uh there isn’t one…
Rosie: Like that’s a joke, right? I mean, what if I have to call my broker?
Jodi: Well, I’m sorry…
Rosie: [rolling eyes] ugh, like Moooondooo bad planning Jodi! Geez
Yes she said like in ever delivery and she used mondo…MONDO! I couldn’t wait for her to die. The camera work was bad as well, and the quality was VHS so I mean you really can’t rip it. The lighting sucked, everything seemed smoky or foggy, not even just the dream sequences.
The special effects weren’t anything great. There are some bloody moments, but no kills that were so good that I immediately think of them. Stabbings, choppings, cleaver (?) to the face. Nothing that hasn’t been done before in movies like Friday the 13th. Nothing too clever to set it apart from the rest, and in return not much to mention in a review. The ending is really confusing, but I’m not going to give it away, I’m trying to keep things light on spoilers this year for you guys.
Dreamaniac, which I always want to type “dream maniac” is less about dreams and more about a hot chick going around killing people with the help of some tool named Adam that thinks he’s a musician. I wouldn’t suggest this to my horror friends at all, it does little to establish itself in the muddy underside of the slasher genre. If you’re a slasher completist like me, then watch it. I found it on Tubi TV, which is FREE! Tubi has an assload of old slashers so give it a look. There are commercial breaks but very few. Dreamaniac I give a D. It wasn’t the worst I’ve ever seen but it is kind of dull, the bad acting made me laugh in parts but the lighting and constant smoky look turned me off big time.
