{{Infobox film | name = Mean Dreams | image = | alt = | caption = | director = [[Nathan Morlando]] | producer = William Woods<br>Allison Black | writer = Kevin Coughlin <br> Ryan Grassby | starring = [[Sophie Nélisse]] <br> [[Josh Wiggins]] <br> [[Bill Paxton]] <br> [[Colm Feore]] | music = [[Son Lux]] | cinematography = [[Steve Cosens]] | editing = [[Ronald Sanders (film editor)|Ronald Sanders]]<br>Sandy Pereira | studio = Woods Entertainment | distributor = [[Elevation Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|2016|5|15|[[2016 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|df=y}} | runtime = 105 minutes<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/consumers-film-and-video-homepage/classification-search?&task=view&film_id=416985 |website=Consumer Protection BC: Motion Pictures |title=Mean Dreams [classification report] |year=2016 |accessdate=25 October 2016 |archive-date=26 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026163506/https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/consumers-film-and-video-homepage/classification-search?&task=view&film_id=416985 |url-status=live }}</ref> | country = Canada | language = English | budget = | gross = <!--(please use condensed and rounded values, e.g. "£11.6 million" not "£11,586,221")--> }}
'''''Mean Dreams''''' is a 2016 Canadian [[coming-of-age film|coming-of-age]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Nathan Morlando]] and written by Kevin Coughlin and Ryan Grassby. The film stars [[Sophie Nélisse]], [[Josh Wiggins]], and [[Bill Paxton]]. It was screened in the [[Directors' Fortnight]] section at the [[2016 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="Quinzaine">{{cite web|url=http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/en/fortnight-2016/ |title=Fortnight 2016: The 48th Directors' Fortnight Selection |accessdate=19 April 2016 |work=Quinzaine des Réalisateurs |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420130803/http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/en/fortnight-2016/ |archivedate=20 April 2016 }}</ref><ref name="Quinzaine-deadline">{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/cannes-directors-fortnight-2016-films-lineup-full-list-1201740068/ |title=Cannes: Directors' Fortnight 2016 Lineup – Laura Poitras' 'Risk', Pablo Larrain's 'Neruda', Paul Schrader's 'Dog Eat Dog' |author=Nancy Tartaglione |date=19 April 2016 |accessdate=19 April 2016 |work=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328112344/https://deadline.com/2016/04/cannes-directors-fortnight-2016-films-lineup-full-list-1201740068/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was Paxton's final release film during his lifetime.
== Plot == Described as "a coming-of-age drama that evolves into a crime thriller",<ref name=LizBraun>{{cite web |agency=Postmedia Network |author=Liz Braun |newspaper=Calgary Sun |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/10/20/mean-dreams-review-josh-wiggins-impresses-in-crime-thriller |title='Mean Dreams' review: Josh Wiggins impresses in crime thriller |date=20 October 2016 |accessdate=25 October 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025235236/http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/10/20/mean-dreams-review-josh-wiggins-impresses-in-crime-thriller |url-status=live }}</ref> the film begins with teenagers Jonas and Casey meeting, introduced by Casey's faithful dog Blaze. Jonas spends his days working on his father's cattle ranch in the [[Great Lakes]] region of North America; Casey and her father Wayne, a police sergeant, are the new neighbors. Wayne tries to quell the romance blossoming between Casey and Jonas. When Jonas sees Wayne hit Casey, Jonas and Wayne get into fight and Wayne threatens Jonas's life. Jonas talks to the Chief and his father about protecting Casey without receiving any help. He decides to act on his own.
Jonas goes to Casey's with a plan to run away together. Wayne comes out to his truck in the middle of the night and Jonas hides under the tarp in the back. Police sergeant Wayne drives to a drug deal where he kills the bikers and takes a million dollars. Jonas sees and hears it all later escaping and taking the money from Wayne at a gasoline stop. He and Casey go on the lam, living outdoors and trying to stay one step ahead of Wayne and the authorities. Casey tells Jonas how her father used to beat up her mother before her death in a car crash and now she takes the beatings. She is sure her father will kill Jonas.
The Chief of Police was in on the deal and he finds the teens at a motel after the pawn shop reported Jonas's gun purchase. He drives Jonas to a dump and demands the return of the money. Jonas tells him someone stole the money. Despite being cut in the gut, Jonas gets the gun and control driving away in the Chief's vehicle. Casey treats Jonas's wound and gives away her dog Blaze who has slowed their getaway. They get on a bus heading West to fulfill Casey's dream to see the ocean.
The bus is pulled over by the Chief and Wayne after the dog's microchip disclosed their location. The Chief drugs Wayne and the two teens and takes all the money. The three awake and Wayne wants the part of the money the kids had previously buried. If he gets the money, Jonas can walk away free. As the daughter digs for the money, she recovers the pistol Jonas bought, and with some hesitation, turns and shoots her father dead, avenging her mother. The teens are seen hitching a ride in the back of a truck with that half of the drug money, and also stashing the pistol.
== Cast == * [[Sophie Nélisse]] as Casey Caraway<ref name="Oct2015D" /> * [[Josh Wiggins]] as Jonas Ford<ref name="Oct2015D" /> * [[Bill Paxton]] as Wayne Caraway<ref name="Oct2015D" /> * [[Colm Feore]] as The Chief<ref name="Oct2015D" /> * Blaze as Himself
== Production == Although it was announced that [[Kevin Durand]] had been cast in the film<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://touchwoodpr.com/news-events/colm-feore-kevin-durand-and-golden-globe-nominated-bill-paxton-join-rising-stars-sophie-n%C3%A9lisse-and-josh-wiggins-in-the-thriller-mean-dreams |publisher=Touchwood Public Relations |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Colm Feore, Kevin Durand, and Golden Globe nominated Bill Paxton join rising stars Sophie Nélisse and Josh Wiggins in the thriller Mean Dreams }}</ref> and shot at least one scene,<ref>{{cite news|title=Actor Kevin Durand gets bush lessons for movie role|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-born-actor-kevin-durand-gets-wild-in-northern-ontario-for-new-movie-1.3305432|accessdate=21 April 2017|publisher=CBC News|date=5 November 2015|language=en|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422135159/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-born-actor-kevin-durand-gets-wild-in-northern-ontario-for-new-movie-1.3305432|url-status=live}}</ref> he does not appear in the final cut.
[[Principal photography]] on the film began on October 29, 2015 in [[Northern Ontario]], including [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario|Sault Ste. Marie]].<ref name="Oct2015D">{{cite news|last1=A. Lincoln|first1=Ross|title=Thriller 'Mean Dreams' Sets Cast Including Bill Paxton & Kevin Durand, Begins Production|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/mean-dreams-announced-thriller-starring-bill-paxton-1201597094/|accessdate=March 22, 2016|work=Deadline|date=October 29, 2015|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331002101/http://deadline.com/2015/10/mean-dreams-announced-thriller-starring-bill-paxton-1201597094/|url-status=live}}</ref> William Woods would be producing the film through Woods Entertainment, while it would be financed by Tip Top Productions, Project AMB, Vigilante Productions, [[Telefilm Canada]], [[Northern Ontario Heritage Fund]], and Ontario Media Development Corporation.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=Bill Paxton, Kevin Durand Join Thriller 'Mean Dreams'|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/bill-paxton-kevin-durand-mean-dreams-1201629631/|accessdate=March 22, 2016|work=Variety|date=October 29, 2015|archive-date=June 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610031622/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/bill-paxton-kevin-durand-mean-dreams-1201629631/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Release == Following its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes,<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Telefilm Canada |url=http://www.canada-cannes2016.ca/en/films/category/311/view/mean-dreams/3179 |title=Perspective Canada: Mean Dreams |year=2016 |access-date=2016-10-25 |archive-date=2016-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025174646/http://www.canada-cannes2016.ca/en/films/category/311/view/mean-dreams/3179 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Mean Dreams'' played major Canadian film festivals.<ref name=TIFF>{{cite web |url=http://www.tiff.net/films/mean-dreams |publisher=Toronto International Film Festival |title=Mean Dreams [programme note] |year=2016 |access-date=2016-10-25 |archive-date=2016-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025173907/http://www.tiff.net/films/mean-dreams |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=VIFF>{{cite web |url=https://www.viff.org/Online/article/f19530-mean-dreams |title=Mean Dreams [programme note] |publisher=Vancouver International Film Festival |year=2016 }}</ref> [[Elevation Pictures]] released the film in anglophone-Canadian theatres on 21 October 2016.<ref name=ChrisKnight>{{cite web |author=Chris Knight |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=25 October 2016 |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/film-review-mean-dreams-3-5-stars |quote=Mean Dreams opens Oct. 21 in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa. |newspaper=National Post |title=Mean Dreams a simple, low-budget Canadian suspense film that succeeds marvelously }}</ref>
Distribution rights for France were acquired by [[LaBelle Company]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Jordan Pinto |url=http://playbackonline.ca/2016/05/13/labelle-acquires-morlandos-mean-dreams/ |work=PlayBack |title=LaBelle acquires Morlando's Mean Dreams |date=13 May 2016 |accessdate=25 October 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025175857/http://playbackonline.ca/2016/05/13/labelle-acquires-morlandos-mean-dreams/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Vertical Entertainment]] bought United States distribution rights, and intended to release the film there in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-vertical-entertainment-acquires-young-927102 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |title=Toronto: Vertical Entertainment Acquires Young-Love Film 'Mean Dreams' for U.S. |author=Mia Galuppo |date=9 September 2016 |accessdate=25 October 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025190604/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-vertical-entertainment-acquires-young-927102 |url-status=live }}</ref>
On December 7, 2016, the film was named to the [[Toronto International Film Festival]]'s annual Canada's Top 10 list.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tiff-canada-top-10-films-2016-1.3884421|title='Telling stories that show Canadians who we are:' TIFF unveils top 10 Canadian films of 2016|newspaper=CBC News|access-date=2016-12-08|archive-date=2016-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208012225/http://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tiff-canada-top-10-films-2016-1.3884421|url-status=live}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{official website |http://www.woodsentertainment.com/mean-dreams}} * {{official website |http://mistersmithent.com/film/mean-dreams}} * {{IMDb title|5160928}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|mean_dreams}}
[[Category:2016 films]] [[Category:Canadian thriller films]] [[Category:2016 thriller films]] [[Category:English-language Canadian films]] [[Category:Films scored by Son Lux]] [[Category:Films shot in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]] [[Category:Vertical (film company) films]] [[Category:2016 English-language films]] [[Category:2016 Canadian films]] [[Category:English-language thriller films]] [[Category:Films set on farms]]