Dream House (1998 TV Movie) User Reviews

How Can a Producer Approve a Budget for Such a Stupid TV Movie?

[claudio_carvalho · 3/10 · 6 March 2005]

The engineer Richard Thornton (Timothy Busfield), his wife Laura (Jennifer Dale) and his son Michael (Dan Petronijevic) come to live and test a house designed by him and fully controlled by the computer Helen. He invested all the family savings in this project, and expects to have some Japanese investors supporting it. Meanwhile, his absent daughter Jenny (Lisa Jakub), the black sheep of the family, returns home with the intention of robbing the family with her boyfriend Ray (Brennan Elliot). However, Helen finds out the truth, eliminates Ray and jeopardizes the whole family. "Dream House" is a very silly, predictable and stupid movie. I do not understand how can a producer approve a budget for such a TV movie. I lost my Sunday morning watching this crap, and of course I do not recommend it to any viewer. The users who recommended this garbage through good reviews are insane or maybe collaborators of the producers. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): "A Casa Assassina" ("The Killer House")

Poor, yes, but oddly charming with it

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 14 April 2015]

At last...a '90s-era TV movie that doesn't suck? Well, not quite, but at least DREAM HOUSE is a mildly interesting movie - and better than the recent Daniel Craig movie of the same name. The simplistic storyline, which is set entirely within a rambling house, involves a family who install a super duper security system with AI at the heart. Before you can say 'HAL 9000', Helen (as the computer is known) is manipulating and controlling the family for her own ends.

Yes, the film is as ridiculous as the premise sounds, and it's also hugely dated - more so than films made years earlier. The 1990s era technology is a hoot, though, and the stilted acting and dated fashions are also entertaining. It's fun to see how the filmmakers manage to avoid putting any suspense or purpose into their film whatsoever. The computer character is a lot of fun, though, especially with those sarcastic comebacks, and the film seems to fly by even though nothing much happens. It could be worse (and frequently is)...

What a waste of time.

[moviebuf-24 · 29 July 2000]

I got this movie as it sounded like a cool movie, a bit on the scary side. Well, I was not amused.

For starters, Timothy Busfield's character was as shallow as they come. He is a computer geek and builds this computer that will run their home and they are the Guinea pigs. I won't go into it but I will say this much. He does spend lots of time working on it and little time w/ the rest of the family. That is pretty much all you see him do and he wears shirts and ties all the time even though you never see him leave the house. His acting here doesn't live up to his acting on Thirtysomething.

The rest of the cast of characters aren't any better. Jenny (the daughter) is the best character of them all and that isn't saying much. You get a hint of what the back history is on the parents (how they met in high school), but hardly anyone or anything else.

The acting was superficial and shallow to say the least. The premise has some plausibility, but in the end, was totally unrealistic and on the verge of farcical.

Basically, to put it mildly, it's one of those made for TV movies that's as bad as most. I actually thought it was an actual movie, but seeing how it was edited, I realized it was a made for TV movie.

I ended up fast forwarding through parts of it and basically wasted an evening watching this dumb movie.

Don't waste your time on it.

I cried when i saw this film.

[tomorrowdriver · 1/10 · 18 April 2005]

Well, if your lucky in your life you get to see things that would change your life, Ghandi. Paul Berry covered in jam , hell even Jesus squatting over a candle. However Nothing and i mean NOTHING prepares you for Dream House,

The film teases, tickles, licks, makes love to you and then tells you it meant nothing. I watched this film with baited breath, small hotdog in one hand, elton johns masterpiece in the other. And i was blown away but enough about my sex life. The film starts with a man on the edge he is dirty, raw, naked without having to take his clothes off. He builds this house see, a Dream House if you will. The plot basically tells the epic tale of a house falling in love with a man. Not only is this a beautiful story it always breaks down the walls of racism and war. If a man can make love to a brick house why do we have to fight eh. Why?

The acting is top class, at one point i stopped the tape and wept, i wept for a long time actually. I pressed play and realised why i was weeping. There not just acting, there living, i read about how the actors got into the characters head by living in the dream house for 9 years prior to filming.

There is a lovely moment when the main guy who if he doesn't not land the role of Superman will be a revolt. Anyway he has a go at the house its all done to camera just him an a cup of method acting. I felt his pain i wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him its alright, but i couldn't. This film made me want to hold a man in my arms. Powerful.

The diamond in the rough is the real star, voiced by the late Carrey Grant the house comes alive thanks to its above its time special effects and camera tricks that Lord of the rings would kill to know about.

Watch this film, live this film, then make love to a man with a beard and scream. Yes don't regret living when you wont even give it a chance.

DREAM HOUSE NO

DREAM FILM

Thank you

bad

[danno1no1 · 1/10 · 18 April 2005]

i seen this film on TV yesterday an i have got to say, i never really like to put a film 'down' but this was bad everything about it. the acting was cardboard, the plot was mediocre and best of all the main actor look's like Eric Clapton! its a good job i never went the pictures to see this shoddy excuse of a film. if i had to make a comment on a positive side to this it would have to be the laughable side of it, at times i found myself cringing over the scenes. if anyone as to say this film was otherwise i think u would need your head testing :-)seens as this film was released in 1998 then maybe back then it would have been slightly better but not by much thanks for wasting my time hope this was useful to you D

2001 a House Odyssey

[tobist · 9/10 · 26 January 2000]

Great fun if you've ever felt a prisoner of your own home, except this one actually talks back, is real jealous, and has a homicidal streak. They don't show you this stuff in those "Own your piece of America" bank comercials where the idyllic young couple works out the financial details with the oh so nice bank manager.

An excellent movie, rent it now, without delay!

[Dangermouse-1 · 23 December 2000]

Although the movie was without a huge budget, star actors or even a fascinating plot, the presentation alone is enough to intrigue even the most skeptical of people. The cinematography, scenery and dialogue are in a league of their own. It is, without doubt, the best movie since "Plan Nine from Outer Space".

Nothing says Oscar like a knife wielding dishwasher.

[Maestro-37 · 19 June 2000]

You can safely say that this movie certainly didn't start the Home Automation business. The movie utilized knife wielding dishwashers and a female computer to control and threaten the residents of an automated home. The results: I'm not sure, since I started hitting my head on the wall in attempt to dumb myself up in order to enjoy the movie. A must see!