Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- eerie
- melancholic
- tender
- late night horror viewing
- supernatural thriller night
What critics said
Critics found the film's imaginative horror landscape, composition, and lead performances effective despite a wobbly, familiar story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Cody's dreams manifest physically while he sleeps, transforming his inner life into the film's central supernatural mechanism.
The adoptive family alternately experiences the incredible beauty of Cody's imagination and the horrific nature of his night terrors.
Jessie and Mark initially interpret Cody's insomnia as the result of unstable previous homes before investigating the fears behind it.
Jessie and Mark's effort to save their new family requires uncovering the truth behind Cody's nightmares and past.
Films like Before I Wake, and why
The Babadook
shares supernatural childhood fears, dream imagery, grief, and emotionally focused horror
The Sixth Sense
shares a child-centered supernatural premise, family trauma, and a blend of fantasy wonder with frightening manifestations
Dreamscape
shares dream-based supernatural menace, psychological distress, and an atmospheric horror tone
The Orphanage
shares uncanny child imagination, domestic grief, and fantasy-horror tension
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike Flanagan
- Release Date
- 2016-04-07
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (2029)
Cast
- Kate Bosworth
- Jacob Tremblay
- Thomas Jane
- Annabeth Gish
- Lance E. Nichols
- Scottie Thompson
- Dash Mihok
- Jay Karnes
- Kyla Deaver
- Courtney Bell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Before I Wake about?
- A grieving couple discovers that their adopted son's dreams materialize into wondrous and terrifying realities, forcing them to confront the source of his nightmares.
- What is Before I Wake like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Before I Wake as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Before I Wake violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Before I Wake as mild.
- What did critics think of Before I Wake?
- Critics found the film's imaginative horror landscape, composition, and lead performances effective despite a wobbly, familiar story.
- Which films are like Before I Wake?
- Films with a similar feel include The Babadook, The Sixth Sense, Dreamscape, and The Orphanage.
- How long is Before I Wake?
- Before I Wake runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Before I Wake?
- In United States, Before I Wake streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
