Before I Wake

Skip the genre filler — Before I Wake, in Australia on Beamafilm, and in the US on Netflix, actually commits to its premise. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 1,997 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Kate Bosworth anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Beamafilm.

Before I Wake is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. What makes Before I Wake work is that the ideas never crowd out the people having them. An orphaned child's dreams—and nightmares—manifest physically as he sleeps. Kate Bosworth and Jacob Tremblay lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It hit screens in 2016. What separates Before I Wake from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Before I Wake fits the bill. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Kate Bosworth anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.

Before I Wake was released in 2016, directed by Mike Flanagan. The full 97-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.