IMDb 5.2 1988 HD

The Dreaming

The Dreaming

1988
Fantasy Horror
90 min NR Australia
5 / 10
5.2 IMDB

When a group of Indigenous activists attempt to repatriate ancestral artifacts found in a cave on Australia's Kangaroo Island, one of them is shot, evading police and taken…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Mario Andreacchio
Starring
Arthur Dignam / Penny Cook / Gary Sweet / Laurence Clifford / Kristina Nehm / John Noble / Patrick Frost / Peter Merrill

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

thought-provoking intriguing unsettling atmospheric ambitious uneven historical supernatural grounded challenging compelling resonant

Reviews

S
Seraphina Chen
May 19, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

'The Dreaming' is a film that trusts its audience to engage with complex ideas, blending the tangible struggle for cultural repatriation with the intangible realm of ancestral memory. The performances are solid, with Arthur Dignam and Penny Cook…

R
Rhys Davies
May 19, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

While 'The Dreaming' tackles significant themes of Indigenous rights and historical memory, its execution feels somewhat muddled. The central conceit of a doctor experiencing visions linked to artefact repatriation is intriguing, but the narrative struggles to fully coalesce.…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 19, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that dares to confront uncomfortable truths with a supernatural flourish. 'The Dreaming' is built around a potent idea: that the land itself remembers and retaliates. The performances, particularly from the ensemble cast including Arthur…

M
Marcus Bellwether
May 19, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'The Dreaming' presents a bold fusion of social commentary and psychological thriller. The narrative hinges on a potent concept: the spiritual repercussions of historical wrongs manifesting through visions. Penny Cook’s portrayal of the afflicted doctor is central, as…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 19, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

A film that attempts to weave a complex tapestry of activism, cultural heritage, and supernatural intrigue, 'The Dreaming' is a commendable if occasionally uneven effort. The premise, involving Indigenous activists, stolen artefacts, and a doctor plagued by visions,…

FAQs

The visions experienced by the doctor in 'The Dreaming' appear to be intrinsically tied to violent historical events, suggesting a manifestation of past trauma and unresolved conflict. These experiences likely explore themes of historical injustice, the enduring impact of colonisation, and the spiritual or psychic resonance of significant cultural sites and artefacts.