For you classical movie fans and fans of the Fifties music scene, this film Dream Lover will not contain a note of either Jeanette MacDonald's first film hit song from The Love Parade or will you hear Bobby Darin's hit from the Fifties, both entitled Dream Lover. Neither song while different in style is positive in nature and wouldn't be right in this very downer of a thriller.

James Spader can't believe his luck in finding Madchen Amick, she's the perfect beautiful woman. He must feel like Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell Smith when they created Kelly LeBrock in Weird Science. This woman is an eleven plus and after a divorce from Bess Armstrong, Spader's in need of reassurance that he's still got it.

They marry and have children, but gradually he starts noticing little things that she always has a perfect explanation, but rattle Spader beyond the point of endurance. When he starts investigating his wife, Spader finds a lot of things just don't add up.

Dream Lover is a neat little thriller that will keep you guessing right to the end who is going to come out on top. In fact neither of them really do, or at least that's how I view the film.

Spader, Amick and the rest of the cast respond well to writer/director Nicholas Kazan's script and guidance. When Spader starts investigating the past of his wife and finds she's just a down home girl from Texas instead of what she puts out, he meets up with William Shockley her old boy friend. His one scene in the film with Spader will leave an indelible impression.

In fact Dream Lover will leave an indelible impression on you.

Ray Reardon (James Spader) is a successful architect. His wife cheats on him and they get a divorce. He even allows her to get the best of the settlement. His friend Norman (Larry Miller) asks him for a loan but Ray refuses to give him the full amount. At Norman's party, he meets Lena (Mädchen Amick) but it doesn't go well at first. Subsequently, they get together, even get marry and have kids. However, he becomes suspicious of her and she puts him in an asylum.

There are two great actors in this movie. More precisely, there are two perfectly cast actors in this movie. The problem is that Nicholas Kazan is not up to the task as a director or a writer. He's making this an erotic thriller but the thrills are mostly pushed to the last act. Ray should be committed to the asylum earlier and his struggle should be more compelling. His directing is even worst. It's lifeless. This is a missed opportunity with two terrific actors.

Handsome and successful architect Ray Reardon (a strong and engaging performance by James Spader) is recovering from a painful divorce when he meets and immediately falls in love with the charming and beautiful Leena Mathers (a marvelously sultry and enchanting portrayal by the luscious Madchen Amick). The two get married and settle down to a life of total bliss. But is Leena really as perfect as she seems? Writer/director Nicholas Kazan relates the crafty and involving story at a steady pace, peppers the picture with several neatly surreal dream sequences, and delivers several nifty twists and turns that culminate in one startling doozy of a surprise downbeat ending. Spader and Amick both do outstanding work in the lead roles; they receive able support from Fredric Lehne as Ray's loyal buddy Larry, Larry Miller as jolly, rascally, wisecracking pal Norman, Bess Armstrong as shrewd lawyer Elaine, Kate Williamson and Tom Lillard as Leena's scrappy hick blue collar parents, and William Shockley as scruffy redneck Buddy. Moreover, this movie offers a valid and provocative point about how letting the wrong person into one's life can completely destroy said life. Jean-Yves Escoffier's slick and agile cinematography gives this picture a pleasing glossy look and makes expert use of a smoothly gliding Steadicam. Christopher Young's spare shivery score enhances the slowly mounting tension without ever becoming remotely obtrusive or overbearing. Well worth a watch.