Dream House (2011) is a psychological horror film directed by Jim Sheridan, starring Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts. The film brings to the audience a dark, suspenseful and surprising story, revolving around the concept of memory, loss and the boundary between reality and fantasy.The story begins when Will Atenton (played by Daniel Craig), a successful editor in New York, decides to quit his job to spend time with his family and moves to an old house in the suburbs with his wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and two young daughters. However, the new life quickly becomes strange when the family discovers unusual things around the house and the neighbors seem hesitant to mention this place.
Will gradually discovers a horrifying secret: the house was the scene of a massacre that left a woman and two children murdered, and the main suspect is... the victim's husband - Peter Ward. What's even more terrifying is that when Will tries to investigate the case, he discovers that Peter Ward is... himself. The story begins to delve into Will's mind, as he cannot distinguish between real memories and hallucinations caused by psychological trauma.
The strength of Dream House lies in the way it builds a tense and ambiguous atmosphere, along with Daniel Craig's excellent performance as a man torn between reality and hallucination. The film is not simply a horror film but also a psychological journey, deeply exploring the pain of loss and self-doubt. The plot is led by deduction, creating the feeling of a jigsaw puzzle, forcing viewers to think and ask questions continuously.
However, Dream House also received some mixed reviews from critics, especially the way the trailer revealed too many details before the film was released, which somewhat reduced the surprise and drama in the film. However, for many viewers, this is still an emotional film, containing messages about family, love and the power of forgiveness.
In short, Dream House (2011) is a film worth watching for those who love the psychological horror genre, because it does not stop at shocking horror but also opens up profound perspectives on the human soul.
