Nicolas Cage has had a long and diverse film career, but his role in “Dream Scenario” may be his most hilarious yet. In the film, Cage plays Paul Matthews, a balding and schlubby college professor who mysteriously starts appearing in the nightmares of random dreamers. Despite his presence, Paul never intervenes to help the dreamers or save them from their nightmares.
“Dream Scenario” is a dark social satire that mercilessly skewers our click-driven world of instant celebrities and cancel-culture righteousness. It marks the English-language film debut of Norwegian director-writer Kristoffer Borgli, known for his black comedy “Sick of Myself.” The film offers a side of Cage that audiences haven’t seen before, as he portrays a whiny victim and turns it into a master class in reactive comic acting.
The film is co-produced by Ari Aster, the filmmaker behind angst-ridden surrealistic films like “Beau Is Afraid” and “Midsommar.” With its release set for November 10th, it is sure to generate buzz and possibly even receive awards season recognition for Cage’s performance.
Paul Matthews, an evolutionary biology professor, would seem like the last person to invade the dreams of strangers. However, as his cameos in dreams increase, he finds himself at the center of a dream epidemic. Social media marketing Millennials take notice and approach him with product placement opportunities in his dreams. But things take a turn when a marketing assistant confesses that Paul’s appearances in her dreams are anything but benign, leading to hilariously cringe-worthy results.
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As expected with a Cage vehicle, his appearances in dreams become increasingly malevolent, evoking a similar tone to his film “Mandy.” The cinematography by Ben Loeb adds to the over-the-top and menacing nature of the dreams. Trauma coaches intervene, turning Paul into a social pariah. Even his relationship with his wife, Janet, becomes strained as the cancel culture mentality takes hold.
Cage and Borgli make for a comedy dream team, pushing each other to edgier limits while keeping sight of the film’s cautionary message. Borgli also serves as the film’s editor, maintaining a crazy energy with playful jump cuts and flashbacks. The Toronto-set production finds a unifying constant in the steady snowfall seen outside every window.
However, the standout of “Dream Scenario” is undoubtedly Cage, who fully immerses himself in the self-pitying nebbish character of Paul Matthews. His performance is comedy gold, and he is aided by the costume design of Natalie Bronfman, who perfectly captures a 90s aesthetic in Paul’s wardrobe.
If there was ever any doubt about Cage’s ability to captivate audiences, “Dream Scenario” will surely eliminate it. With its sharp and hilarious comedy, the film will leave audiences unable to take their eyes off Cage and may even earn him recognition in the upcoming awards season.
