Before I Wake (2016)

Before I Wake (2016) is a tense supernatural drama-thriller about grief, parenthood and the terrifying power of a child’s imagination. Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane), still raw after the death of their son Sean, adopt eight-year-old Cody, a sweet but sleep-averse orphan. They soon discover why Cody refuses to sleep: his dreams — and his nightmares — physically manifest while he slumbers, producing moments of breathtaking wonder and moments of lethal horror. Watching the film, you’ll move between warmth and dread. Intimate family drama and genuine emotional stakes ground the story, while the fantasy-horror elements escalate the tension: expect spectacular, uncanny visual moments when Cody’s fantasies come to life, and sudden, heart-pounding scares when his night terrors take form. The couple’s grief, hope and fear drive a suspenseful hunt to understand and stop the nightmares, creating moral dilemmas and emotional beats as unsettling as the supernatural threats. If you like character-driven horror with a bittersweet core — equal parts touching and terrifying — Before I Wake delivers a haunting, atmospheric ride that blends wonder, sorrow and adrenaline-fueled thrills.

Actors: Kate Bosworth, Oleksandr Reshetilov, Thomas Jane

Director: Mike Flanagan

Runtime: 97 min

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

5.3 /10 68 /100 6.2 /10 6.1 /10