Before I Wake

Play trailer

1:26

Before I Wake

PG-13

2016

1h 37m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

36 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he's terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it's just a natural fear for any young child. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody's dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody's mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all.

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Beware this waking nightmare: Before I Wake isn't always lucid enough to escape its wobbly story, but crafts a neat horror landscape of grief.

Read Critics Reviews

Ignatiy Vishnevetsky

AV Club

Jan 5, 2018

B

Horror movies that exploit broad childhood phobias about bedtime lights-outs and basement chores are a dime a dozen, but it's really refreshing to find one made with a parent's curiosity and concern for a child's point of view.

Go to Full Review

Brian Tallerico

RogerEbert.com

Jan 5, 2018

2.5/4

A flawed film, but there are elements that really work, especially the lead performance and some of Flanagan's gifts with composition.

Go to Full Review

Chuck Bowen

Slant Magazine

Dec 22, 2017

3/4

Before I Wake's images have a pleasing straightforwardness that parallels the openness of the young protagonist's longing for love.

Go to Full Review

Jason Adams

My New Plaid Pants

Jul 2, 2021

Before I Wake is the ten millionth horror movie about parents mourning a dead child but it actually manages to grab ahold of that horror with two hands and shake the guts out of it at times

Go to Full Review

Emma Wolfe

SpookyAstronauts

Apr 30, 2021

8/10

It was a really surprising mix of being super emotional and super freaky.

Go to Full Review

Alix Turner

Ready Steady Cut

Jan 27, 2021

3.5/5

An atmospheric fantasy thriller about a young boy whose dreams come to life.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

B P

@Bradster69 Sep 1, 2026

Not Bad, but Not My Favorite

See more

Charles T

@CharlesGaming1000 Aug 17, 2026

Oh damn this was better than i thought

See more

Bret M

@BretM-3 Aug 1, 2026

I really enjoyed this movie. I thought the premise alone was very intriguing. And as the movie went on I was increasingly more interested as to what was really going on. And that I think is why the ending is so good. By the time you get to the end, you’re so invested and curious as to what is happening that it is a great payoff that feels earned. I don’t really have anymore to say. I just definitely recommend you check it out for yourself!

See more

Logan D

@Greynomad38 Jul 24, 2026

A bereaved couple (Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane) welcome a foster child (Jacob Tremblay) into their home. Soon disturbing nightmares become real. A sentimental work, the film combines supernatural horror with emotional drama. This formula is extremely common but this film handles it well. Jane, despite only being Bosworth's elder by ten years and in his forties at the time, looks as if he's in his 60s and wearing an awfully hair weave. Tremblay (grown now) is a talented young actor. I really enjoyed him and his cohorts in Good Boys. Here we get a straightforward but enjoyable horror tale with moments of terror and an emotional core. I wonder if Flanagan has done anything else. ;)

See more

JoeR D

@Daisan Jul 4, 2026

Better than I thought it’d be; emotionally and visually satisfying.

See more

Yash B

@yashbansal May 13, 2026

"Before I Wake" doesn't stand as one of my favorite horror movies, but I still feel it is an inventive one brought by Mike Flanagan. I think he went on to make better projects after this one, but it was interesting checking it out. I do think at times it is creepy and even scary, but it is definitely more of a drama movie with some supernatural horror infused into the premise. I feel somewhat conflicted by the ending of the movie and think it should have ended with a different vibe and feeling. Overall, it is one of many horror movies that are about grief, and as a whole, it is a decent one-time watch for genre fans.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Mike Flanagan

Director

Kate Bosworth

Jessie

Thomas Jane

Mark

Annabeth Gish

Natalie

Dash Mihok

Whelan

Jacob Tremblay

Cody

The Bye Bye Man

19%

22%

The Bye Bye Man

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Bye Bye Man

The Darkness

3%

19%

The Darkness

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Darkness

Lights Out

74%

61%

Lights Out

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Lights Out

The Boy

31%

38%

The Boy

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Boy

Incarnate

18%

24%

Incarnate

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Incarnate

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Before I Wake: Trailer 2

1:26

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he's terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it's just a natural fear for any young child. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody's dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody's mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all.

Director: Mike Flanagan
Producer: Trevor Macy, Sam Englebardt, William D. Johnson
Screenwriter: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Production Co: Intrepid Pictures, MICA Entertainment, Demarest Films
Rating: PG-13 (Violent Content|Terror|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 5, 2018
Runtime: 1h 37m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings