Dream House

  • Review Date: September 30, 2011
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Thriller
  • 2011
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Muddled, weird thriller has disturbing violence.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this mystery-thriller with supernatural elements includes a disturbing scene of two children dying of bloody wounds. Several other characters also get shot and die, and some blood is on display. Shouting and threats are prevalent. Language is light but includes one use each of "f--k" and "s--t." A married couple kisses and engages in some bedroom play, though there's no nudity.

  • It's hard to figure out what this muddled mess is really trying to say, though the main character does overcome a major challenge by learning how to accept a painful loss and move on.
  • No real role models here. Most of the characters' behavior is shady, and their motivations are unclear. The wife and daughters seem to be good, loving people, but they can't be role models for a very good reason.
  • The most horrifying scene in the movie occurs when two little girls become sick and feverish. It's revealed that they have bloody, gaping wounds on their bodies, and they both die. Characters are shot and killed, and there's some blood on view. There's an explosion, as well as many scenes of shouting and threats.
  • A married couple is seen repeatedly kissing and engaging in some bedroom foreplay.
  • At least one use of "f--k" and "s--t," plus "damn," "hell," "ass," "a--hole," "goddamn," and several uses of "Jesus" and "Christ" (as exclamations).
  • Not applicable.
  • The main character has a glass of beer on the table with his dinner, but he doesn't drink from it. A character uses chloroform to subdue his victims.

What's the story?

Book editor Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) decides to quit his job to write and spend more time with his wife, Libby (Rachel Weisz), and their daughters in his new DREAM HOUSE. Unfortunately, he learns that some terrible murders took place in the house, and strange things start happening. The neighbors -- like pretty Ann Patterson (Naomi Watts) and her angry ex-husband (Marton Csokas) -- are acting suspiciously, and mysterious figures are hanging around in the woods watching the house. Will starts digging a little deeper into the house's past and discovers a sinister secret ... and everything he believes in comes crashing down around him.


Is it any good?

 

It's possible to see, somewhere in the fabric of this weird, overwrought misfire, that a good movie might once have been possible. Director Jim Sheridan, a six-time Oscar nominee for My Left Foot, In the Name of the Father, and In America, is normally quite good with stories about families. But it appears that neither he, nor screenwriter David Loucka, nor the editors, had any idea where this story starts, where it goes, and when it ends.

 

As a result, Dream House appears to climax somewhere in the middle, and many of the actors and their characters are left stranded. Poor Craig must suffer a strange change of hairstyle every few minutes, and Watts' character -- it turns out -- has very little to do with anything. Moreover, there's no attempt to create any red herrings, and the mystery stalls. Even the rules behind the supernatural elements are ignored. Finally, the emotional content is so ridiculously over-pitched that audiences are liable to laugh at this family's misfortunes.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. Is it appropriate for a thriller like this, or is it too brutal? What's the effect of watching this kind of violence?

  • Is the movie scary? If so, what makes it scary? What were the scariest moments, and why?

  • What is the movie really about? Does anyone learn anything? Is it a good story?


This review of Dream House was written by
Teen, 13 years old
October 1, 2011
 
intellegent fun thriller
well i saw this movie just the other night in theaters and me and my friends got a good scare and it was suprisingly enjoyable. everybody loved this is a intelegent fun mystery thriller with limited blood or gore there might be a disturbing scar or two and there are child deaths but otherwise this is a fun thrill ride you wont want to miss but save it for your teens
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Kid, 12 years old
March 11, 2012
 
This is a non-scary movie.
Any horror fans should not watch this film because it is not something scary. Just as normal, the previews make it look scary, but it is not. Language: One f word. I didn't hear any a words, but if common sense says there is that word, I guess there must be that word. There are no h words heard, however, you see that word on a basement door. You do hear God's name in vain for anyone that is offended by that and you hear Jesus Christ. I don't know exactly how many, however, there are a few d words. Violence: I don't think there is too much violence, however, two girls are sick and have nasty bloody wounds. There is a shooting. A house burns down. Sexual behavior: There is no sex, however, a pair do kiss a few times. The same pair look like they are going to have sex, but they don't. Drugs: The only part, is that someone poars wine or beer to people, but no one is shown drinking it. Positive role models and messages: The are no positive messages and really no positive role models, except someone tries to remember stuff that he forgets.This movie should be good for anyone 14 and up.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 3, 2012
 
ok, but not the best :(
This movie was ok, but i didn't care for the violence or language, but it was a good suspence movie
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Kid, 12 years old
March 13, 2012
 
GREAT THRILLER MOVIE!
This movie has a great twist in it. It's perfect if you want it to keep you at the edge of your seat! The only disturbing scene is when the two little girls start dying, only to reveal some nasty wounds. Though the topic may be a bit strong for some children,so you may want to talk to them about the movie first.
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Kid, 6 years old
May 4, 2012
 
Dream House Review 1
This movie is a great one. It has adventure, thrill, horror (almost) and love. It keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. It makes you figure things out throughout the movie and there are many twists and turns throughout it. I highly recommend this movie.
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Teen, 14 years old
September 14, 2012
 
Very common storyline
This show is action packed, but it has a storyline that many movies have, though I don't want to spoil the movie, so I won't say what, so therefore, afterwards, it's kind of predictable. The bit at the end of the movie happens all of a sudden without any warning, therefore I was thinking, "Is this in the past or future?" Good acting, but the scripts and dialog need some work, I think.
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Teen, 13 years old
October 6, 2012
 
Ba noun na na na Bad to the bone Ba Ba Ba Ba BAAaaaaaaadddD
Bad XD
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Teen, 14 years old
February 3, 2013
 
Great Suspense
This movie has a great use of suspense, twists and turns. A must see!
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Teen, 14 years old
December 13, 2012
 
Awesome movie, very few violent scenes, emotional intensity.
There is some violence in this movie, but the violent images are not bad at all. The thing that makes the violence worse than the images themselves is the way the images are presented, the fantasy/reality confusion, and the children involved. If you can handle the emotions, you are probably fine, but some scenes look like they are taken from a nightmare (because of the emotions, not the images).
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This review of Dream House was written by
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Jim Sheridan
Cast:Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz
Genre:Thriller
Run time:92 minutes
Theatrical release date:September 30, 2011
DVD release date:January 31, 2012
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language

This review of Dream House was written by
 

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