BEFORE I WAKE

Directed by: Mark Flanagan

Starring by: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay, Annabeth Gish

Production: Intrepid Picture

One more film by Mike Flanagan this month after he releasing Ouija The Origin of Evil last week. Flanagan doesn’t want to state this movie as a horror movie but it was a third in row of his movie using Latin word after Absentia (2011) and Oculus (2013), for he gave title Somnia originally but technically speaking it was change to “Before I Wake” then. But no doubt this is also the third movie of he’s on 2016 after the one I mention before and Hush. Great job for him!

A couple who had lost their child in tragic accident decided to adopt new foster child name Cody Morgan. The 8 years old kid was very cute and have innocent-looks, I bet it reminds you of MacCaulay Kulkin during his young age, and who had not fallen in love for the politeness of this boy when he’s taking off his shoes before entering the house of Jessie and Mark. Gush, the boy really had manner…

The relationship went perfectly as the couple begins to found the perfect life they’re almost lost after the death of their boy, Shawn. But soon after Jessie and Mark realized Cody had special gift, he could make his dream turned to real when one night they saw many butterflies flying inside the house and they frowned seeing Shawn there, alive and well-touched but he vanished when Cody awaken and taking a diet coke from the fridge. He saw them and realized what happened then say sorry in the most innocent way.

Jessie begun to obsessed with Cody’s talent and she’s taking benefit by letting Cody to watch video of Shawn at Christmas. She want to make Cody had dream about Shawn perfectly, and it did. She really happy to see and touch their beloved death-boy but what they don’t know Cody’s dream also had a dark side. It invites Canker Man, the monster that bring misery for people who using his dream.   

It was a girl of Cody’s friend who watch the horrible effect of his dream when he fall asleep at school and  Canker Man appear in front of her before it consume the mean kid who try to disturb Cody. Since that the police visits Mark’s house to investigate about the lost of that mean kid. Jessie who’s being obsessed to get her will to see Shawn more often met doctor and asking about Cody’s condition. The doctor prescribes medicine to help the hard-sleep problem of the boy.

Mark realizing Jessie couldn’t control her obsession and he start to confront her, they’re arguing for the mistake of what they were doing to Cody. What happened then, Canker Man finally revealed in whole and he terrorized the house but they could not wake Cody because Jessie had put doctor drugs in his milk just to make him fall asleep. Cody’s nightmare became worse when Canker Man consume Mark and Jessie, who try to help him, was thrown away to the wall and fainted.

The next day the police and social department came after Cody phone them and they taking the boy away from Jessie for this incident. They suspect Mark vanished because he’s got to do with the lost of mean kid the day before. Jessie met Natalie, the social service’s staff who suggested her to take Cody as a foster child, and found out that Natalie knew about the boy’s dream problem but Natalie answer no more.

Well, you should take a look closely at this scene because there was no bump mark on her cheek when she’s seeing Natalie but it appears on the next scene to show how severe she got thrown by Canker Man that night.   

Jessie stealing Cody’s file from Natalie desk and start to look deeply about Cody’s past. She visits the man who was former foster of Cody before she and Mark does. The man said about dark side of Cody’s dream if he had nightmare and it brings death because the monster ate his wife. He said he almost shot the boy to make the nightmare stop but he couldn’t, so he thought it was his mistake to let the sorrow continues. He suggesting Jessie to take the deal to killed the boy. She also went to the hospital where Andre, the birth mother of Cody put her things of legacy, and studied all about Cody’s background.

Natalie who found out that the boy refused to sleep for two days started to worries and she ordered the staff to inject the boy with stimulant to make him sleep. Again, they make mistake other couples did because Canker Man once again appeared to the orphanage house that night and terrorizing all staff. Meanwhile, Jessie who finally found out what the problem was came to that place and confronting the monster to release Cody.

At this point, I think I should stop to let you watch the movie yourself because I won’t ruin the best moment of Flanagan had make to show you what Jessie did to put away Canker Man once and for all, and how she could turn everything around to make happy ending for her and Cody.

For this movie, I might say the hell with genre…horror…no horror…dark fantasy…science fiction…I think Flanagan had achieve more than that, like Dream Theatre who could blend rock with jazz to some music of their own he’s doing masterpiece on Before I Wake. I like this movie very much. Not so often you saw horror movie but you could shed a tear at the same time, and this movie did that to me. I know how it feels to lost boy like what happened to Jessie and Mark, so it something very obvious to Jessie get obsessed as I want to see my boy everyday till now.

In my opinion, this movie is on same level of The Sixth Sense, it gave you twist and surprises that you wont think of it before. I’m sure it will become classic of well remembered as the work of Shyamallan had did!