Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- wistful
- tender
- rainy day
- independent film night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as an atmospheric, emotionally engaging coming-of-age thriller whose young leads and rural setting outweigh its familiar genre mechanics.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jonas and Casey flee together after stealing drug money, making physical escape inseparable from emotional maturation.
The forest, fall setting, motels, and small-town spaces contrast natural beauty with pursuit and violence.
Casey’s abusive sheriff father hunts the teenagers, turning the parent-child relationship into the film’s central threat.
The bag of drug money initiates the protagonists’ flight and drives the sheriff’s pursuit.
Films like Mean Dreams, and why
Mud
shared coming-of-age drama, young fugitives, rural isolation, and protective first love
The Selfish Giant
shared small-town crime thriller, adolescent protagonists, family abuse, and life on the run
Loving Vincent
shared teenage romance, escape from abusive authority, and tense rural pursuit
Movie Details
- Director
- Nathan Morlando
- Release Date
- 2016-10-21
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (141)
Cast
- Sophie Nélisse
- Josh Wiggins
- Colm Feore
- Bill Paxton
- Joe Cobden
- Vickie Papavs
- Ryan Blakely
- George Buza
- Tara Nicodemo
- Mike McPhaden
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Mean Dreams about?
- Two teenagers flee through rural Canada with stolen drug money while first love becomes their fragile refuge from an abusive lawman.
- What is Mean Dreams like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Mean Dreams as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Mean Dreams violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Mean Dreams as moderate.
- What did critics think of Mean Dreams?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as an atmospheric, emotionally engaging coming-of-age thriller whose young leads and rural setting outweigh its familiar genre mechanics.
- Which films are like Mean Dreams?
- Films with a similar feel include Mud, The Selfish Giant, and Loving Vincent.
- How long is Mean Dreams?
- Mean Dreams runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Mean Dreams?
- In United States, Mean Dreams is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
