Virginia Film Festival

Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is a directionless family man and middling professor, troubled by the ordinary, and frankly boring, concerns of an average midlife crisis. That is, until his life changes drastically turns when countless strangers start seeing him in their dreams.

In these dreams, much like in his real-life interactions, he remains a passive bystander, merely observing the fantasies and nightmares of these unknown individuals. Overnight, Paul’s previously unremarkable existence is cast aside, and he becomes a viral sensation. News channels come calling, as do brand opportunities, and even groupies. The runaway fame is not without its downsides, however, and Matthews isn’t prepared for the fallout of when his dream behavior taking a shocking turn. 

Co-produced by Ari Aster (Midsommer, Hereditary), A24’s Dream Scenario delivers on a bonkers premise in this thrilling, unpredictable rollercoaster of a comedy–a whipsmart and hilarious look at the culture of influencer fame, presented it’s all its strangeness, glory, and potential for disaster.

“A perfectly absurdist setup that allows Nicolas Cage to flex his singular acting muscles in increasingly hilarious directions” -Slant Magazine, Mark Hanson