Deadly Dreams (1988)

Director: Kristine Peterson

Starring: Mitchell Anderson, Juliette Cummins, Xander Berkeley

Alex is caught in a web of distrust between his brother, his best friend, a beautiful stranger and the renewed dreams of the slaughter of his family.

Over a decade ago Alex’s parents were brutally murdered on Christmas Eve by his father’s business associate Norman Perkins. Alex is still haunted by the memories and plagued by nightmares of a man wearing a fox mask, trying to kill him.

Alex’s brother Jack runs the family business, while Alex is an aspiring writer and has no interest in the business. His best friend is Danny, whom he confides in when he believes he is being stalked by Perkins. Only, Perkins committed suicide shortly after killing Alex’s parents.

Alex meets Maggie and they soon start seeing each other, and eventually move in together. When Alex’s nightmares become more vivid, the lines between dreams and reality starts to blur, and Alex starts losing it.

And just when I thought a big twist was the film’s reveal, there’s another twist right at the end I never saw coming, and everything makes perfect sense. This is actually a clever set-up and a well written script, making ‘Deadly Dreams’ a worthy addition to the 80’s horror genre.

Would I watch it again? Yes.