(the following refers to the DVD screener version of the film)

Dreamcatcher

(Lawrence Kasdan ;2003)

(Warner)

A group of friends rescue a retarded boy from eating a dog turd when they were young and the boy bestowed upon them the power to read each other’s thoughts. Having returned to the secluded cabin that has been their yearly retreat for the past 20 years since the fecal incident, the friends discover that something is not right with their surroundings. Woodland creature are fleeing from something right before their eyes and are seemingly afflicted with some sort of red spots. Eventually one of the friends finds a lost and sick hunter wandering in the woods and takes him in. Soon the hunter takes a turn for the worse and ends up dying in the bathroom. Upon investigation, a strange eel like creature that looks like a penis with many rows of teeth emerges. Is the U.S. Government too late to stop this alien invasion?

Not a bad film, though I really didn’t know what to expect. Having not read the book, I can’t attest to how well the film holds up, but I do know that King fans had lambasted the film. From a casual viewer’s standpoint, it’s worth a viewing. Some decent gore and some actually well done CGI effects make for an amusing effort. Rent before you buy.

Overall Score: 6.5

(Rating scale is out of 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 the best)