Starring: Nicolas Cage, Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, Dylan Baker, Kate Berlant, Noah Centineo, Nicholas Braun, Amber Midthunder, Lily Bird
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
A24 comedy written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli. The Dream Scenario (2023) centers on hapless family man Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage), who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers suddenly start seeing him in their dreams. But when his nighttime appearances take a nightmarish turn, Paul is forced to navigate his newfound stardom.
Where to Watch:
Best Quotes
Janet Matthews: Why am I always just standing there?
Paul Matthews: [referring to Sophie] Don’t make her feel guilty about her dreams, Paul.
Paul Matthews: So, when talking about adaptive strategies, why does the zebra look the way it does? You can spot it miles away, so it’s not very functional, right? Any theory on how the black and white stripes could be a benefit? No one? From what we know, the camouflage isn’t effective in terms of blending in with the environment. Rather, it’s about blending in with the herd. You see, predators need to identify their prey. They can’t just attack the whole group. So, if you stick your head out, you make yourself a target.
Sheila: There’s nothing wrong with just being a professor, Paul. You don’t need to be a researcher too.
Claire: You’ve been on my mind recently.
Paul Matthews: Yeah? I haven’t thought about you in a while.
Claire: Okay. Good to know, I guess.
Claire: You’re still doing that?
Paul Matthews: What?
Claire: Searching for the insult.
Janet Matthews: Why did you get all red?
Paul Matthews: Well, I was just taken aback by the whole situation. Wouldn’t you react the same if some old boyfriend just cornered you like that?
Janet Matthews: I don’t think I’d turn into a stuttering fool.
Janet Matthews: I’m just nervous what this woman will do to you when I’m not there.
Paul Matthews: Do to me? What’s she going to do to me? Jump me?
Janet Matthews: Have you ever fantasized about other women?
Paul Matthews: Yeah, of course, I have.
Janet Matthews: But never cheated?
Paul Matthews: Oh, my God. Janet. Do you really think I’m that cool? Do you think I could handle the emotional burden of having an affair?
Janet Matthews: No. No, you’re right.
Paul Matthews: Just try not to let your neuroticism hijack you.
Paul Matthews: We both know you score high in neuroticism. It’s best to just own it and be pragmatic about it.
Janet Matthews: Yeah. Well, you score high in “a**holeness”.
Paul Matthews: I score high in “a**holeness”?
Janet Matthews: Yeah. So, just own it. Be pragmatic about it.
Paul Matthews: I feel like I want to apologize for barging into your head like that.
Claire: I guess I’ll see you in my dreams.
Paul Matthews: Yeah. Of course not.
Paul Matthews: Have you been dreaming about me?
Brett: Have I been dreaming about you?
Paul Matthews: Yeah.
Brett: Ever in my life, you mean?
Paul Matthews: No, recently.
Brett: I don’t know. I don’t keep track of things like that.
'There's a big difference between talking about an idea and actually doing all the work.' - Sheila (Dream Scenario) Share on X
Naomi: So, I’ve told my husband this ad nauseam, but it’s about a recurring dream I’ve had, or not so much a specific dream, but a specific person I keep dreaming about. He looks perfectly average. He’s a remarkable nobody that just shows up. He just occupies the space like an awkward guest at a party that no one really knows.
Paul Matthews: There’s like a hundred messages on here. Probably Claire’s article. She must have linked it to my profile or something. Somebody wants to interview me.
Janet Matthews: Why are you so excited?
Paul Matthews: Why? What’s wrong?
Janet Matthews: This is strange, Paul. Maybe you should take a minute and think before you do anything drastic.
Paul Matthews: Why me? I don’t know. I’m special, I guess.
News Anchor: An area man has found himself at the center of a strange dream epidemic, which scientists are struggling to make sense of.
Sleep Specialist: So we actually don’t know what’s causing this, but it’s sort of like a dream version of the Mandela effect, which is when multiple people report having the same false memory without any logical explanation.
Hannah Matthews: This is going to be so weird to explain at school.
Paul Matthews: I’m always inclined to think, rationally, that anything supernatural has to be socially constructed. But this one is mysterious, even for me.
Andy: How does it feel to go viral?
Paul Matthews: Well, we can discuss that when we get to memetics later this year.
Greta: Why is this happening?
Paul Matthews: I have no clue. My guess would be as good as yours.
Paul Matthews: Who’s certain they’ve actually had a dream about me?
Paul Matthews: [his students raise their hands] Okay. Let’s explore this. This might get us somewhere interesting.
Andy: [after describing his dream] And that’s all I remember.
Paul Matthews: Huh. Interesting. So, I’m looking at the mushrooms instead of helping.
Andy: Oh, I suppose. Yes.
Paul Matthews: [to his students, referring to their dreams] Does anyone have a more original one? Maybe one where I’m actually doing something. No one?
Paul Matthews: So, I’m finally cool, huh?
Hannah Matthews: Well, I wouldn’t go that far.
Paul Matthews: You hear that, Janet? She’s saying I’m a cool dad now.
Hannah Matthews: I didn’t say that.
Chris: [referring to Paul] Dude, this is so insane. How’s he dealing with all of this?
Janet Matthews: We’re not even the type of people that like attention, you know? So, the whole thing is so bizarre.
Chris: Also, I was listening to this podcast that I like. They were talking about Paul.
Janet Matthews: Oh, yeah?
Chris: Yeah. They were relating Paul to, like, this old internet meme. And then they were talking about how like all memes will become dreams, or something like that.
Janet Matthews: Why do you suppose you’re not showing up in my dreams?
Paul Matthews: Well, because you get the real deal. It wouldn’t be fair if you got both. Are you jealous?
Janet Matthews: I don’t know. I mean, rationally, I’m not. But…
Paul Matthews: Then maybe I should give you a little visit.
Janet Matthews: [referring to what she would want him to do in her dream] Remember when you wore that Talking Heads suit for Halloween?
Paul Matthews: Yeah.
Janet Matthews: There was just something about it. Something kind of weird and sexy. You should wear that, and save me from like some situation.
Paul Matthews: That’s your sexual fantasy? Sky’s the limit here, and you sell it for me wearing a comically large suit.
Janet Matthews: I don’t know. I’m not good under pressure.
Janet Matthews: [to Paul] Do you think other people are seeing you naked?
Paul Matthews: Maybe somebody’s dreaming about me right now. Maybe a bunch of people, at the same time.
Janet Matthews: How many?
Paul Matthews: Hundreds? Maybe thousands?
Janet Matthews: Oh, that is so irresponsible of you. I can’t accept that.
David: [after someone breaks into their house to kill Paul] You know, fame can come with some less-than-desirable side effects. Strangers might want to talk to you, some of them might be mentally unstable. You should be prepared for that.
Janet Matthews: Maybe we should cool this thing off. You know, this is why I was skeptical in the first place.
Paul Matthews: Oh, you knew specifically that this would happen?
Janet Matthews: This kind of thing, Paul. Strange consequences.
Brett: [to Paul] Take it as a warning. I really feel like you’re playing with fire here.
Brett: Do you actually believe people are randomly dreaming about you? You don’t think it’s because you’re popping up all over the news and on the internet?
Paul Matthews: Yeah, maybe that accounts for some of it. But it doesn’t really explain everything.
Brett: Okay. So, you think something magical is happening?
Paul Matthews: Well, why is it just me? Why not you, or anyone else for that matter?
Brett: So, you believe in metaphysics if it proves you’re special?
Paul Matthews: No. I don’t know. I’m still processing it.
Brett: Am I sensing a little midlife crisis here?
Paul Matthews: Oh, come on. You’re the one who just bought a f***ing Kawasaki!
Molly: It’s just really weird to see you in real life.
Paul Matthews: Oh, you’ve been…
Molly: Nonstop every night. It’s crazy, man.
Paul Matthews: Wow. Well, I hope I’m behaving.
Molly: Well, no. You’re not. No. Not at all.
Trent: I wish I was the one people were dreaming about.
Mary: Me too!
Paul Matthews: Yeah. No, it’s something.
Trent: And I think of you, right now, in this moment, Paul, as the most interesting person in the world.
Trent: You’re in people’s minds when they sleep. Which means that anyone who’s dreaming, you know, could be your audience.
Mary: How amazing is that? Who can say that?
Trent: [to Paul] You know, we talked about selling your life rights to a movie studio actually.
Mary: Oh, because with all the buzz around this, I think we could probably get a six-figure deal. And that’s just life rights.
Paul Matthews: I just want to make it clear that I actually don’t want this whole phenomenon to be what I’m known for. I don’t want that to be the main thing on my Wikipedia, you know?
Paul Matthews: I don’t care about fame. I just see this as an opportunity to get some recognition for my work. You know, one door opening another door?
Mary: [to Paul] One idea we had was to make Obama dream about you.
Paul Matthews: [to the PR team] Maybe this isn’t really what I’m looking for. I don’t think we’re really speaking the same language here.
Trent: I would like to apologize. I lied earlier. I never dreamt about you. I just thought that would be a fun way to start the meeting, okay? But what is absolutely true is that I have been thinking about you a lot, and I just really feel that we’re going to do something very special together.
Paul Matthews: They really know their stuff. They’re going to set me up with a publisher and get the book rolling.
Janet Matthews: Wow, that’s great! Now you just have to write it.
Molly: Did you read that article about people dreaming backward in Australia?
Paul Matthews: No.
Molly: It’s because of like the gravitational pull or something. They mentioned you in it, so.
Paul Matthews: How do they dream in China then? Upside down?
Paul Matthews: I’m struggling to imagine anyone seeing my face and immediately craving a Sprite.
Molly: I would.
Paul Matthews: [referring to Molly’s dream] Usually, what I hear is I’m just passively hanging around. It’s kind of nice to hear I’m doing something.
Molly: Well, I guess I’m lucky.
Paul Matthews: Well, I don’t know about that.
Molly: No, it’s so good. Trust me.
Paul Matthews: Jesus, they had some bad dreams, and now they’re not going to show up for class? I mean, we can’t just accept that.
Paul Matthews: They’re dreams. It’s not real. I’m not actually doing anything to them.
Brett: But it sounds like they’ve actually been traumatized.
Paul Matthews: Trauma is a trend these days. It is a joke. Everything is trauma. Arguing with a friend is trauma. Getting bad grades is trauma. They need to grow up.
Candice: The basic idea with cognitive behavioral therapy is that we’ll go through gradual exposure to what we feel is threatening us to familiarize with it, instead of fearing it. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right?
Paul Matthews: I’m a tenured professor and they’re basically just letting the students run the school.
Hannah Matthews: So, like what did you do? Why did everything change?
Paul Matthews: I didn’t do anything, Hannah.
Hannah Matthews: Well, you must have done something.
Chris: [to Janet] You know, I’m against cancel culture, and all of that stuff, I really am. But I think that just right now maybe it would be best if you kept a lower profile, you know? Just until the whole like scandal situation blows over.
Sophie Matthews: They call you Freddy Krueger at school.
Paul Matthews: Oh? Do you know who that is?
Sophie Matthews: I Googled it.
Paul Matthews: Dreaming is like a psychosis, Sophie. Our brain decides to start hallucinating while we sleep. It’s part of its housekeeping process. We need that to happen, for some reason.
Sophie Matthews: But why are you so mean in the dreams?
Paul Matthews: It’s their dreams. I have nothing to do with it. You understand that, right?
Sophie Matthews: I guess.
Paul Matthews: I don’t want to be some culture war person. I don’t want to be controversial.
Mary: And then also, there’s France, Paul. For some reason, they love you over there. Even with the nightmares, they love it.
Trent: Yeah. You’re building a fanbase over there.
Janet Matthews: Maybe you should apologize.
Paul Matthews: I should apologize? Take a look at my face for Christ’s sake.
Paul Matthews: Who’s to say anything will be different if I do apologize?
Janet Matthews: Oh, so, basically, you’re just choosing for us to be more miserable.
Paul Matthews: Why don’t you take my side, Janet?
Janet Matthews: Sophie shouldn’t have to be punished just because you want to make a point. Don’t make us all die on your hill.
Portia: Hi. Sorry to bother you. Do you own that car that says, “Loser”?
Paul Matthews: Yes.
Paul Matthews: [recording his public apology] I’m sorry, I didn’t address this earlier. I’m sorry to anyone who’s had one of those terrible, terrible nightmares. The reason why I’m so emotionally distressed right now is because I had one myself. I’ve experienced what so many of you must have experienced, being violently attacked and abused by a man who looks like me. I have to stress, that man is not me. And I speak now from actual lived experience. I’m one of you.
Paul Matthews: I’ve been vilified in my life, haunted in my dreams. My mere presence upsets people, and not because I’ve actually done anything. But because people imagine I’ve done things. Is it really fair that I should be punished for that? Am I not the biggest victim in this whole phenomenon? Just look at how it’s affecting my life! But because people imagine I’ve done things. Is it really fair that I should be punished for that?
Janet Matthews: [referring to his public apology] It was completely insincere and self-serving.
Paul Matthews: What? Which part?
Janet Matthews: All of it. It’s embarrassing, Paul. It’s embarrassing to be married to you right now.
Norio Ad Voice: An average man, a cultural sensation, a dream turned into a nightmare. For a period, going to sleep meant risking abuse from this man. Though we still don’t understand how this phenomenon started, or why it suddenly stopped, we can rest assured that after violently attacking a middle school teacher last fall, Paul Matthews disappeared from the public eye and our collective dreams, all together.
Hunter: I mean, people always use Paul Matthews as the cautionary tale.
Haley: Okay, this industry might not exist without him. But also, he put such a negative stamp on it.
Chloe: It’s kind of insane that he harnessed all of this power, just so he could terrorize people.
Realtor: So, what happened? Like, they just stopped or… I just feel like I haven’t heard of them in a while.
Paul Matthews: Yeah. I don’t know. People stopped having them, I guess. If I hear anything now, it’s mostly abroad.
Paul Matthews: Have you been seeing me in your dreams lately, by the way?
Janet Matthews: No. Why do you keep asking?
Paul Matthews: I’m just curious.
Paul Matthews: Is that the book? I haven’t actually seen a physical copy of it yet. Okay.
Trent: Wow. It’s so thin.
Paul Matthews: Must have gotten shorter in translation. They changed the title too?
Jean: “I Am Your Nightmare.” That is not the title?
Paul Matthews: No. It was supposed to be Dream Scenario. But this is fine, I guess. Yeah, it’s fine. It probably works better for the demographic.
Dream Travel Guru: Hey, guys. It’s Liam. Today, I’ll be teaching you how to enter someone else’s dream using the Norio. Think of it as a meditation. Close your eyes, relax your body, and hyper-focus on the person whose dream you’re trying to enter. Try to pick someone who welcomes your presence, or else this whole thing will be pretty much impossible. So, once you have your dreamer locked in, the Norio will do the rest.
Paul Matthews: [uses the dream device to travel into Janet’s romantic dream with him] I wish this was real.