[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Une épouse trop parfaite

Original title: Dream Lover
  • 1994
  • 16
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
6.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,009
254
James Spader and Mädchen Amick in Une épouse trop parfaite (1994)
Trailer
Play trailer2:08
1 Video
99+ Photos
Erotic ThrillerDramaMysteryThriller

A successful architect suspects his second wife is not who she claims to be.A successful architect suspects his second wife is not who she claims to be.A successful architect suspects his second wife is not who she claims to be.

  • Director
    • Nicholas Kazan
  • Writer
    • Nicholas Kazan
  • Stars
    • James Spader
    • Mädchen Amick
    • Fredric Lehne
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    6.8K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,009
    254
    • Director
      • Nicholas Kazan
    • Writer
      • Nicholas Kazan
    • Stars
      • James Spader
      • Mädchen Amick
      • Fredric Lehne
    • 51User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Dream Lover
    Trailer 2:08
    Dream Lover

    Photos118

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 112
    View Poster

    Top cast39

    Edit
    James Spader
    James Spader
    • Ray
    Mädchen Amick
    Mädchen Amick
    • Lena
    Fredric Lehne
    Fredric Lehne
    • Larry
    Bess Armstrong
    Bess Armstrong
    • Elaine
    Larry Miller
    Larry Miller
    • Norman
    Kathleen York
    Kathleen York
    • Martha
    Kate Williamson
    Kate Williamson
    • Mrs. Sneeder
    Tom Lillard
    • Hank Sneeder
    William Shockley
    William Shockley
    • Buddy
    Carl Sundstrom
    • Officer
    Irwin Keyes
    Irwin Keyes
    • Officer
    Joel McKinnon Miller
    Joel McKinnon Miller
    • Minister
    Joseph Scoren
    Joseph Scoren
    • Martha's Lawyer
    • (as Joseph Scorsiani)
    Archie Lang
    • Judge #1
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • Judge Kurita
    Alexander Folk
    Alexander Folk
    • Oscar
    Michael Chow
    Michael Chow
    • Mr. Mura
    Talya Ferro
    • Cora's Sister
    • Director
      • Nicholas Kazan
    • Writer
      • Nicholas Kazan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews51

    6.26.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7Agent10

    Tightly wound and suspenseful

    A late night boredom trip became quite a spectacle. Not only did the performances from Madchen Amick and James Spader feel realistic and genuine, the actions of the two seemed based more in reality as opposed to the Hollywoodized version of revenge and anger. While some might call this senseless trash, I call this a spectacle of the human condition, one that portrays the hidden evils within every person. With a solid B-cast, this film was certainly worth the time and money put into it. Also, the ending proved to be one of the best `revenge of the cuckold scenes ever.'
    6johnnyhbtvs27

    Madchen Amick's Best Role

    Nice thriller with a decent amount of mystery let down by a rather abrupt ending. It's a shame because the film moves along nicely and is well executed for the first hour and slowly loses It's way. James Spader is good in the lead role & Madchen Amick is brilliant in her best role to date. Amick is never better than here as we learn more and more about her character and what's true and false. Just a shame about that ending though.
    7athanasiosze

    7/10. Recommended.

    I can't call it a hidden gem but this is a good drama/romance/erotic thriller and i am glad i watched it. It helps if you are a Spader's fan, he gives a very good acting performance here. And Madchen Amick is a feast for the eyes. It helps even more if you like 90's cinema, you know, somewhat naive, not very convincing but entertaining, intense and fun. Interesting all the way until the end, never draggs, viewer empathized with the characters and wants to know how it is gonna end. Ending regarding, i would say that it is definitely unexpected. It's not brilliant, it's far fetched and i don't even know if i liked it or not but definitely it's not something forgettable.

    Not a great movie but definitely watchable and entertaining.
    9briscojr

    A wonderful, overlooked suspense film

    It's too bad that bigger budget Hollywood fare often obscures movies that are far better such as this. I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this film as I'd not heard much about it, but was totally captivated by it.

    The performances from James Spader and the achingly beautiful Mädchen Amick are first rate, and the script is flawless. A lot of the plot feels like a rehash of Hitchcock, but it's done incredibly well, and hey, if you're going to steal from someone, might as well steal from the best.

    The twists and turns really work, and take the viewer along for the ride as well. You'll find your own mind working along with the script, trying to unravel the mystery.

    It's a shame this film didn't receive more publicity, as all the elements are there for this to have been a real hit. Instead, it remains one of my favorite little gems of a film... one of those that few people know about, but when they see it they think it's a great film as well.

    An added bonus is that the home video version contains a few minutes of extra "steamy" scenes that were cut from theaters.

    I think this film is an underappreciated modern-day classic, and I urge everyone to check it out.
    6The_Void

    Incoherent but somewhat worthwhile thriller

    Dream Lover is one odd little film. On one hand, it's a Neo-Noir style mystery romantic thriller, but for some reason; supernatural themes are constantly hinted at through the tone, title and dream sequences featured throughout the film. I have to say that it really looks like director Nicholas Kazan wasn't really sure what he wanted the film to be, and what we've ended up with is a disjointed blending of a few different genres, which hasn't come out all that well. Still, Dream Lovers does manage an interesting story in spite of this; and while I'm biased because I love a good mystery thriller, I'd say it's just about worth seeing. The plot focuses on Ray Reardon (not the snooker player), a man who has just split with his wife. It's not long before he meets the beautiful Lena Mathers, whom he falls in love, marries and has kids with...before realising that he doesn't really know anything about her. Oops! Around the same time, strange events transpire and it becomes obvious to Ray that Lena isn't who she appears to be, and so he endeavours to get to the bottom of who she is.

    James Spader takes the lead role and both acts and looks the part that he is playing. He is joined by the suitably sexy Mädchen Amick, who is both sultry and seductive in her role. The leads do have chemistry together, and while the film is in no way as sexy as Nicholas Kazan obviously thinks it is, there are no problems on the acting front. The plot really is all over the place, yet somehow it still manages to be rather predictable and despite being a mystery, Dream Lover soon sets itself into a rhythm. I don't like the title very much, as it gives the complete wrong impression of the film - and while it sort of makes sense given what happens, it could have been marketed better. It all boils down to a decent enough ending which, while not very clever, manages to make sense in spite of the fact that it's all a little bit silly, and the final sequence is by far and away the most powerful in the film. Overall, I can't really give Dream Lovers high recommendations, but it's enjoyable and I think the majority of negative comments directed against it are unfair.

    More like this

    Bad Influence
    6.2
    Bad Influence
    La fièvre d'aimer
    6.5
    La fièvre d'aimer
    Sur le fil du scalpel
    5.8
    Sur le fil du scalpel
    Le jeu du pouvoir
    6.3
    Le jeu du pouvoir
    Sexe, mensonges & vidéo
    7.2
    Sexe, mensonges & vidéo
    Speaking of Sex
    5.6
    Speaking of Sex
    Storyville
    5.7
    Storyville
    La geôlière
    5.4
    La geôlière
    Greasy Lake
    6.3
    Greasy Lake
    Hot Spot
    6.4
    Hot Spot
    Masquerade
    6.1
    Masquerade
    La garce
    5.1
    La garce

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original theatrical and the VHS versions have different ending and extra more explicit sex scenes than the DVD version.
    • Goofs
      Lena's psychiatrist goes to her home and then commits Lena's husband for a 5150, which is a 72 hour involuntary psychiatric hold. It is fanciful that the psychiatrist would make a house call, then commit a spouse of his patient (who is not his patient). Domestic abuse is not likely to cause a 6 month involuntary psychiatric hospitalization. It's also very odd that Ray's attorney would not present testimony of Ray's psychiatrist, unless this was edited from the film. It is very strange that a hearing be about allegations about infidelity, not about a psychiatric hold.
    • Quotes

      Ray: [showing photos] Do you know her?

      Buddy: Sissy. Hope she's nothin' to you.

      Ray: She's my wife.

      Buddy: Figures. Did she run off and leave you?

      Ray: No.

      Buddy: Well, give it time.

      Ray: Is that what she did to you?

      Buddy: [smiles] She did things to me I can't even pronounce.

    • Alternate versions
      Unrated U.S. video release includes 4 minutes of additional footage with sex scenes between James Spader and Mädchen Amick.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: That's Entertainment III/3 Ninjas Kick Back/Being Human/Dream Lover/Kika (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      Just You
      Written by Kathy Fisher & Ron Wasserman

      Performed by Kathy Fisher

      Courtesy of Sony Tunes

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • How long is Dream Lover?Powered by Alexa
    • What are the differences between the R-Rated Version and the Unrated Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 6, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • El amante ideal
    • Filming locations
      • New Jersey, USA
    • Production companies
      • Polygram Filmed Entertainment
      • Propaganda Films
      • Nicita/Lloyd Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $256,264
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $44,701
      • May 8, 1994
    • Gross worldwide
      • $256,264
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.