By Geno McGahee
In 1988, FRIDAY THE 13TH and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET were controlling the direction of the horror genre. A NIGHMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS was a big success in 1987 and that was not lost when it comes to the production that was BAD DREAMS. Jennifer Rubin was a hit in DREAM WARRIORS as the punk girl and she now assumes the starring role of Cynthia in BAD DREAMS. She once again shines.
Cult leader, Harris (Richard Lynch), has a hold on his followers and plans a mass suicide where all the members will be born again into a paradise. Richard Lynch was perfect for this role. He has always done well as the mysterious evil guy. We saw it in INVASION USA and we see it here. The followers agree to allow Harris to pour gasoline over them and set them all on fire. When everyone is engulfed in flames, Cynthia is launched to safety and knocked into a coma, where she stays for the next 13 years.
When Cynthia awakens, she is now at a hospital for the mentally ill and, like in most 80’s horror films, the patients are the real crazy ones. When they are all roaming the halls, they’re all making funny faces and doing silly things. The 80s didn’t really understand subtlety.
Much like DREAM WARRIORS, Cynthia is put into a group of troubled people. I’m sure Jennifer Rubin got déjà vu. Joining her was Ralph, played by Dean Cameron (SUMMER SCHOOL), and he is playing the same role that he usually plays. I think that his role in SUMMER SCHOOL was so memorable that it forever haunted his career. People see Chainsaw when they see him and I can’t blame them. I thought “hey, that’s Chainsaw” when I saw him. In BAD DREAMS, he is the likable and strange outcast. He is defiant but has a good heart…damn…just like Chainsaw.
There are all sorts of crazies in this group and it’s sort of odd that they have these counseling sessions with such a broad range of problems. How does Ralph’s depression relate to the sex addiction of some of the other patients? Why are you putting two sex addicts together? This is the 80’s…a time where they preferred guessing on the happenings of a place rather than researching…and DREAM WARRIORS did it. Why can’t they?
Dr. Berrisford (Harris Yulin) overseas the patients but has a special interest in Cynthia. Most of the patients do too. They want to know about the inner workings of the cult. Dr. Alex Karmen (Bruce Abbott) hosts the group meeting and has disagreements with Berrisford and begins looking out for Cynthia. Things begin to get strange as Cynthia begins to see Harris and people start dying. Berrisford dismisses it because of the mental state of his patients, noting that suicide is common with these types of disorders.
As the bodies pile up, the tension rises up between Karmen and Berrisford, and it ends with Karmen walking away without a job. He won’t go quietly. He has feelings for Cythnia and is very concerned for her wellbeing. Usually I would be against this sort of relationship, but he don’t work there anymore. Go for it Karmen!!
The true evil of this movie is revealed and we have a very satisfying ending. Written and directed by Andrew Fleming, BAD DREAMS, is a product of the time. Although heavily influenced by the popular themes of the time, it has its own charm and is rather unique. The visuals in this film are tremendous. When we see the burnt up version of Harris, it’s awesome. He looks great. When the people are set on fire, it’s a combination of stunt work and some trickery. They did a great job with the practical effects and gore.
BAD DREAMS is very good 80’s paranormal slasher. It’s well written and proved that Jennifer Rubin can carry a film in the lead role. Unfortunately, BAD DREAMS didn’t prove to be the launching pad that she needed to make her the star that she probably could have been … in the horror genre at least. The film more than doubled its money but the ending doesn’t leave much room for a sequel. So, the franchise wasn’t to be and there would be no return of Cynthia to stop Harris.
I highly recommend BAD DREAMS. It’s a lot of fun.
Rating: 7.5/10
