| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kate Bosworth | ... | Jessie | |
| Thomas Jane | ... | Mark | |
| Jacob Tremblay | ... | Cody | |
| Annabeth Gish | ... | Natalie | |
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Topher Bousquet | ... | Canker Man |
| Dash Mihok | ... | Whelan | |
| Jay Karnes | ... | Peter | |
| Lance E. Nichols | ... | Detective | |
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Antonio Evan Romero | ... | Sean (as Antonio Romero) |
| Kyla Deaver | ... | Annie | |
| Hunter Wenzel | ... | Tate | |
| Scottie Thompson | ... | Teacher | |
| Jason Alan Smith | ... | Vice Principal | |
| Michael Polish | ... | Charlie | |
| Brett Murray | ... | Uniformed Officer (as Brett Luciana Murray) | |
In this intense and heart pounding supernatural thriller, Jessie (Kate Bosworth) and Mark (Thomas Jane) decide to take in a sweet and loving 8-year-old boy, Cody. Unbeknownst to them, Cody is terrified of falling asleep. At first, they assume his previous unstable homes caused his aversion to sleep, but soon discover why: Cody's dreams manifest in reality as he sleeps. In one moment they experience the incredible wonder of Cody's imagination, and in the next, the horrific nature of his night terrors. To save their new family, Jessie and Mark embark on a dangerous hunt to uncover the truth behind Cody's nightmares. Written by Relativity
Before I Wake tells the story of Cody(Jacob Tremblay). Cody has been moving from place to place because, different foster parents have been adopting him from time to time. Now, he is in the care of, Jessie(Kate Bosworth) & Mark(Thomas Jane). Jessie & Mark soon realize, that Cody's dreams physically appear before them, as he sleeps. The deadly fact is, the same thing happens during his nightmares.
Before I Wake is an impressive film. However, it is not that scary. The jump scares are minimal. The suspense is superbly maintained throughout the movie, by director Mike Flanagan. However, the ending of the film, is disappointing & frankly, slightly silly. The biggest flaw with this movie is that it is not properly categorized. It is supposed to be a horror movie but, it feels more like a fantasy thriller. The script by Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard is original & unique. However, I liked Flanagan & Howard's previous collaboration, Oculus(2013) better. Jacob Tremblay's performance as Cody, is the highlight of the film. Tremblay continues to impress us with his supreme acting ability, after being lauded for his performance in Room(2015). Kate Bosworth is great as Jessie. Thomas Jane is effective as Mark. Annabeth Gish is good as Natalie. Dash Mihok is awesome as Whelan. Antonio Evan Romero, Kyla Deaver & Hunter Wenzel are amazing as Sean, Annie & Tate, respectively. Before I Wake is not a must watch. Still, it is worth a watch if you have some time to spare.