Another tale of terror from Stephen King

Dreamcatcher

Director: Lawrence Kasdan

Cast: Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant, Morgan Freeman, Tom Sizemore

Cert: 18.

While this is certainly not one of the King's better stories it makes a film much better than some critics are making out. The idea is a strong one and Kasdan knows how to keep a narrative moving at a fair pace.

Four friends, who in the past experienced something which altered their lives, head off to the woods for their annual get-together. During a snow-storm they encounter a mysterious woman; and attacking aliens from one of those well-known distant planets.

Along with the vile visitors from that d.p. comes some pretty mad US Government military types - Freeman, acting against type as a baddie - and it's all, well, not un-exciting.

The screenplay, by William Goldman, who adapted King's Oscar-winning Misery, might have been a stronger one since it somehow doesn't manage to capture all the subtelty of King's original work. The film could have been so much better.

The acting is fine enough - Freeman, good or bad, is such a fine actor he's always worth watching - but ultimately this is a film for the more dedicated of King fans.

Star Rating: 3/5