Remember when trailers used to genuinely tease movies, showing just enough to pique people’s interest and leave them wanting more? Whoever edited the trailer for the thriller “Dream House” clearly doesn’t abide by those old rules, having given away a major twist in the two-and-a-half-minute preview.
Real-life newlyweds Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz play Will and Libby Atenton, a married couple who move to a quaint New England town with their two daughters and find their perfect, picturesque dream house. But being a suspense thriller, naturally their dream house isn’t as idyllic as it looks.
A grisly murder occurred in the house when a mother and her children were killed, supposedly at the hands of the family’s patriarch. A neighbor who knew the victims (Naomi Watts) tries to help Will discover the truth when mysterious things begin occurring at the house, and Will discovers he may have an unexpected connection to the tragedy.
“Dream House” has a solid cast and an Oscar-nominated director in Jim Sheridan (“My Left Foot,” “In America”). The trailer gives off a vibe that’s a cross between “Shutter Island,” “The Others” and “The Amityville Horror,” which seems like a promising combination. But especially given the twist, it doesn’t seem like a particularly original tale.
I also found myself irritated after watching the trailer that it could give away such a critical plot point. Perhaps there’s an even crazier twist at the end of the film from which the trailer is trying to misdirect people, but regardless, if you don’t want to be spoiled, I suggest avoiding the trailer below.
“Dream House” opens Sept. 30.
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