Dreamcatcher

Four friends, Henry (Thomas Jane,) Pete (Timothy Olyphant,) Jonesy (Damian Lewis) and Beaver (Jason Lee,) who are gifted with special abilities when they help a seemingly autistic boy, Duddits (Donnie Wahlberg,) escape the school bully, get together for their annual hunting trip in the woods. Their timing, however, couldn't be more unsuitable. Their weekend is gravely disturbed by an extraterrestrial invasion, with a corresponding military quarantine overseen by a psychotic commander (Morgan Freeman) and his war-horse lieutenant (Tom Sizemore.) When one of the alien life forms possesses one of the quartet and kills two others, they discover their friend Duddits is not all he seems and their lives are all in peril, regardless in whose hands they find themselves.

It's a regular "frat boy" sleepover in this supernatural thriller by Stephen King in a story you shouldn't take without some kind of wacky external influence, like lack of sleep or too much coffee. The overall strangeness is an acquired taste, much like the rest of King's work. However, it is a study on human behavior during a crisis, also like some of his work, brilliantly contrasted with the reactions of the military and the quartet. With high-concept supernatural thrillers, in this vein, I enjoy watching the human relationships and this one is abundant.

The Duddits story-line is particularly potent. The quartet's devotion and affection for this person is as life and love is to be, sacrificial and loyal. Their love for each other, as well, is so well written and performed, it's easy to taste their sorrow and celebrate their triumphs. The quartet Jane, Olyphant, Lewis and Lee mesh together so well, it's entirely believable that they grew up together and fought injustice together with a bond that is unbreakable. So when two of them fall, it's genuinely heartbreaking.

Two performances make this film something to see. Damian Lewis' dual performance as New Englander Jonesy and Mr. Gray, Duddits' Bristish-accented (Lewis' own) nemesis. It's both horrifying and hilarious. The other is Donnie Wahlberg's Duddits. He's an emaciated, cancer-ridden man who's on his last mile. Wahlberg's dedication to the role is astounding, including his appearance, and he nails the autism tick with precision. In his other roles, it's hard to see the same man featured here.

Every movie collection needs the obligatory Stephen King adapted flick and this one's mine...and not a bad choice, just one that goes down funny when consumed, which is why I choose well when doing so.

***

In: Timothy Olyphant

Out: Thomas Jane

Coming Soon: The Punisher/Punisher: War Zone