In Dreams (1999)

In 1965, a small town is evacuated and then flooded completely to make a reservoir and lake. Some 30 years later, a housewife (Annette Bening) has her mind invaded via dreams by a psychotic serial killer (Robert Downey Jr.) with gender issues, the dreams becoming a reality and literally driving her bonkers and sending her to a mental asylum. There is a connection between the flooded town and her dreams. Based on the novel DOLL'S EYES by Bari Wood, this is a mess of a film. Serial killer movies, however far fetched, need to have at least one foot in reality. I don't know if it's the fault of the original source material or the film makers but this one is contrived to the point of absurdity and sloppily written to boot. Bening, for example, escapes a psychiatric hospital by merely opening the window and running out. But if there's any reason to watch the film, it's for Bening's fierce performance that manages to rise above the follies of the plot. Everyone else is flat with Downey more ridiculous than frightening. Directed by Neil Jordan (THE CRYING GAME). With Aidan Quinn, Stephen Rea and Margo Martindale.