Dreamstate

Made by 18 year old aspiring director Ethan Hickey, Dreamstate is a thrilling short film that stays with you long after you finish watching. It's the story of one policeman's slow decent into madness and blurs the lines between illusion and reality. Bill (Trevor Ketcheson) is a cop who is having visions. Seeing himself in the people around him and the crooks he is chasing, we follow Bill as he tries to figure out what is happening in his life. But his search for the truth may come at the price of losing his sanity, or worse, his life!

Coming from a family with an aspiring filmmaker in it myself (my older brother) I can completely relate to the many joys and challenges that Hickey may have had in the making of this film. Budget, actors, lighting and props are all extremely important but it's the storyline that really has to shine through and grab the audience. And, for the most part, Dreamstate does its job.

The first act is really captivating, drawing the audience in to the madness happening on the screen. Credit should go to the framing of the scenes as it really adds to the tension. And as the strangeness of the story continues and you've reached your bizarreness limits the second act hits and we are given an explanation as to just what is happening in Bill's weird world. But what begins as a strong story quickly dissipates into confusion as the third act appears slightly rushed. I usually pride myself on being a discerning film viewer but had trouble understanding what was happening in the last couple of scenes. This is where I think Dreamstate deserves a second viewing. Not just to try to understand what happened at the end but to also enjoy seeing an aspiring filmmaker and crew produce a good film, learn their craft and do it well. I'm looking forward to more big things to come from Hickey in the future!

Let's start with the good. The direction is extremely well done and easy to look at. The practical effects work for the story it is in service to and finally I love the poster that is made for the film.

Now some of my opinions. The story is frustrating. I get what the intention was but I feel that there could have a great story in the disappointing one we have. This should be more Falling Down rather than Seven. The performances our characters give is understated and stilted. If this was the intention, I understand but I think they could be more emotional than they are now.

Overall, a good start to a promising career as a director, Dreamstate is a average short film with masterful effects and direction to make it stand out from the rest. It is a visual marvel to behold.