"Dreamcatcher"-A Clear Enigma

Rob Vaux, a writer and editor for a small games company, analyzes the film, Dreamcatcher, for flipsidemovies.com. Considering that this film is based on a Stephen King novel and is directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Vaux discusses this film from more of an auteur approach. He describes how this film puts together all of the horrific, traumatizing elements King has ever illustrated throughout his past work. In the beginning of the film we are introduced to a group of boys who are linked together throughout their lives through a psychic bond. In the early scenes of the film, as Vaux explains, we are able to develop a better understanding of the relationships between the men through a "mental warehouse" representing one characters' mind that the director illustrates before the audience. Soon, as Vaux describes, like all King's other works, a threat that haunts the characters reveals itself as an alien invasion. Vaux explains that the director begins to lose focus as the movie develops; however, keeping in mind that this is based on the work of Stephen King, we continue to devote our undivided attention to the film with assurance that these "ridiculous" alien scenes and monsters destroying civilization will eventually come to a clean ending. As we continue to watch the film, we realize that many of King's common themes such as friendship and trust are illustrated throughout the film. While some of the ideas portrayed in the film may seem bizarre, the cinematography is "breathtaking" as Vaux describes. He says that the aliens in this film are actually scary to the point where we develop unusual thoughts in our head that cause us to actually fear aliens after watching the movie. Vaux does not give the ending of the film away, but he explains that all of the "...holy fools, stupid bad guys, over-the-top special effects..." become crystal clear in the end. This film, as Vaux describes, is definitely one of Stephen King's pieces of work.