Dread (2009)

45% of users liked it
(2,571 ratings)

Three college students producing a documentary on the true nature of fear are slowly drawn into a world of nightmares when one member of the group begins exploiting the phobias of his fellow participants in hopes of seeking salvation from his own dark obsession. Shaun Evans, Jackson Rathbone, Hanne… More Three college students producing a documentary on the true nature of fear are slowly drawn into a world of nightmares when one member of the group begins exploiting the phobias of his fellow participants in hopes of seeking salvation from his own dark obsession. Shaun Evans, Jackson Rathbone, Hanne Steen, and Laura Donnelly star in a film from writer/director Anthony Diblasi. Based on an original short story by horror icon Clive Barker. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Anthony DiBlasi
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Mar 23, 2010

Critic Reviews

Anton Bitel, Little White Lies
a twisted psychological thriller that combines the phobic focus of Fearless (1993), the discomfiting reflexivity of Peeping Tom (1960), and the abhorrent torments of Seed (2007).

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Unknown H

I went into this film quite dubious of the cast but was pleasantly surprised by the acting capabilities and uniquely unsettling characteristics of most of the cast. Although it is slow at times and is not what I would technically define as "horror" it played out nicely and… More
I went into this film quite dubious of the cast but was pleasantly surprised by the acting capabilities and uniquely unsettling characteristics of most of the cast. Although it is slow at times and is not what I would technically define as "horror" it played out nicely and gave the viewer all that they would hope to gain from such a film. I liked it especially because it did not follow a stereotypical "modern" horror movie pace, instead opting to take its time to allow you to bond with the characters so it made the events that unfolded and the things inflicted upon them so much more morish.
David L

Dread is about a university student and philosophy major, Stephen, who meets a very peculiar student named Quaid. Quaid suggests to Stephen that he and himself should make a documentary about what people dread in life. Along with their bud Cheryl, they start interviewing students, but… More
Dread is about a university student and philosophy major, Stephen, who meets a very peculiar student named Quaid. Quaid suggests to Stephen that he and himself should make a documentary about what people dread in life. Along with their bud Cheryl, they start interviewing students, but none seem right to Quaid, who is looking for a bit more trauma than just a fear. And when some expose some of their own personal dread, Quaid decides he wants to make them go through their fears like he did when he saw his parents getting murdered by an ax-wielding maniac at a very young age. Dread is a film-adaptation of a Clive Barker short story with the same name. The story was included in the short story collection, "Books of Blood." And while the story isn't my favorite Clive Barker story, the film is a very good adaptation (which is hard to do with Clive Barker stories). It's written and directed by Anthony DiBlasi, who also co-produced some other Clive Barker adaptations (Midnight Meat Train, Books of Blood). He really understands the content of the story and knows what to do with Clive Barker adaptations. The acting in this is also very well done. You have Jackson Rathbone, who you may remember from the Twilight Saga plays the part of Stephen. He shines because we buy him as a normal protagonist who's been thrust upon a bad situation (or maybe a bad person) and he does a great part playing the part. You also have Shaun Evans, who plays the part of Quaid. It's a really good horror film when an actor plays a villain who you don't want to win, but you're excited to find out what he does next. What really stands out about this film, though, is the 3rd act, which is brutal and ruthless. It's one that you don't see coming, even though you're expecting something to happen from Quaid. And the ending is something that?..well, I can't really talk about without spoiling what it really is. But, let's just say, it's not a fairy-tale ending (but were you really expecting that) and it's something also that you don't see coming.Dark, brutal, and twisted. I love it.
Steve K

A small surprise, the film was better acted than I anticipated and went for more prolonged atmosphere over outright scare tactics. Some gruesome moments, but they're not the reason to watch. I was consistently surprised throughout the entire running time at how much I was… More
A small surprise, the film was better acted than I anticipated and went for more prolonged atmosphere over outright scare tactics. Some gruesome moments, but they're not the reason to watch. I was consistently surprised throughout the entire running time at how much I was enjoying it.
Jacob P

An interesting horror flick with a creative twist.
Daniel P

A nasty, memorable horror that more than lives up to its title, Dread is based on a short story by Clive Barker and is a superb adaptation that truly does sit with Candyman and Hellraiser as one of the best Barker adaps made.… More
A nasty, memorable horror that more than lives up to its title, Dread is based on a short story by Clive Barker and is a superb adaptation that truly does sit with Candyman and Hellraiser as one of the best Barker adaps made. Ingeniously structured and capably performed, there are buckets of blood and gore but the best sequences (for example the bravura 'Jack Daniels' scene which has *fantastic* sound design) are mostly powered by imagination and do indeed have a pervading sense of dread that is at times so intense I had to look away. Technically, the film is a masterpiece with ingenious directing, sound cues (the synth heavy Ghouls by We Are Scientists which screeches onto the soundtrack is a highlight), photography and especially editing all excellent. Jackson Rathbone is possibly the weakest link and plays his character a little too passively but even he does some good work, and overall Dread is a tense and powerful film.
Sylvester K

Wow, DiBlasi stayed true to the short story and added a twist at the end. I really enjoyed the colour and the lighting in the film, the weird camera tracking angle of the axe was great. The film really became disturbing with all the weird elements. It. Some parts are really dreadful… More
Wow, DiBlasi stayed true to the short story and added a twist at the end. I really enjoyed the colour and the lighting in the film, the weird camera tracking angle of the axe was great. The film really became disturbing with all the weird elements. It. Some parts are really dreadful and slow paced, you just wanna skip through it. And the fear of Quaid didn't make much sense. But overall, it's a clever adaptation of Barker's work.
John M

Very slow pace psychological thriller with some unpleasant, sickening, and grotesque scenes. Sadly, it had all the elements to create an adequate suspense climax or more engaging but it never reaches that point and the slow moving did not help it, on the other hand, at the end the… More
Very slow pace psychological thriller with some unpleasant, sickening, and grotesque scenes. Sadly, it had all the elements to create an adequate suspense climax or more engaging but it never reaches that point and the slow moving did not help it, on the other hand, at the end the story leads nowhere and I felt it didn't worth watching. Clive... never lets DiBlasi directs another of your stories.