I can remember a time when my Facebook movie groups were flooded with conversations revolving around the film Pontypool. I, like many others, jumped in, and it has been a long time since I’ve been that impressed with a blind dive. While the “pool” wasn’t necessarily too deep, it was insanely clever and because of which, Bruce McDonald will forever remain stapled to my radar.
Now that his name is synonymous with visionary, his work is hard to miss. Taking a break from television and streaming, I was happy to hear that the Candian director was back to working in film. With Dreamland, the Pontypool band was back together, and I couldn’t have been happier.
On the night of the strangest weddings in cinema history, a grotesque gang boss hires a stone-cold killer to bring him the finger of a fading, drug-addicted jazz legend.
So, did lightning strike twice? Yes! It’s as crazy as it sounds, and while the film may not be for everybody, Dreamland is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It definitely delivers something new, and if you’re looking for a wild ride, I assure you, this just may be the fresh excursion you’re looking for.
Dreamland is directed by, our friend, Bruce McDonald (Pontypool, Weirdos, Roadkill, Hard Core Logo) from a script co-written by Tony Burgess (The Hoard, Saturn’s Rings) and Patrick Whistler (“Cardinal”). The film stars Stephen McHattie (Watchmen, The Fountain), musician/actor Henry Rollins (frontman of Black Flag, Feast, Lost Highway), Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers, Cape Fear) and Tomis Lemarquis (Blade Runner 2049, Snowpiercer).
Uncork'd Entertainment and Dark Star Pictures will release the horror/crime/thriller Dreamland in theaters, on VOD and Digital HD on June 5, 2020.
Jessie Hobson