A Thing of Dreams is set for its world premiere at next week's Fantastic Fest, the largest genre fest in the United States and a strong indicator that this film, co-directed by K. Spencer Jones and Jake Wilkens based off of Wilkens' script, is a seriously kick-ass doozie of a flick that should definitely please genre fans with its unique story centered around a couple, Mallory (Stephanie Scholz) and John (Marcus Coloma), live in a world where the miraculous medication Dreamscape allows you to control your dreams and escape into any world you so choose whether that be adventure or celebrity or romance or whatever. 

When it's revealed that Mallory, unfulfilled with her love life, is escaping into a world devoid of the aforementioned John, a jealous John flies into a rage and tricks her into a mixing of prescriptions that increases the likelihood of a nightmarish detour into one's darkest fears. It's this detour into the darkest corners of the subconscious that may reveal the truth about Mallory's desires and may make it difficult, if not impossible, to escape from them. 

A Thing of Dreams is, indeed, a dark tale filled with moments of dread and suspense and psychological thrillers brought vividly to life both the coupling of Scholz and Coloma, whose chemistry makes for a believable relationship yet also feels authentic as the drama contained within the story heightens. The lensing by Kevin Garrison heightens that drama immensely, practically submerging the characters in the darkness of their subconsciouses yet doing so in such a way that you still never turn away from it. It's tremendously effective cinematography from Garrison, whose growing body of work is indicative of someone who's comfortable working across a wide variety of genres. 

There's no question that Coloma is given the greater range to play here, though kudos to Scholz for turning her sort of guarded stoicism into an emotional distance that drives home the chasm between Mallory and John. The two weave themselves back and forth convincingly, their already vulnerable relationship becoming even more fragile along the way. 

As someone who watches a pretty incredible amount of indie cinema throughout the year, A Thing of Dreams felt a tad familiar but this shouldn't be the case for your average moviegoer even on the festival circuit. Regardless, I was still drawn into the experience and it held me from beginning to end. With a kick-off to its festival journey next week, things should only get bigger and better for this dark, thought-provoking and full-on sensory experience. 

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic