For the longest time I sort of refused to watch this, because I had heard that the theatrical release was cut to receive a PG13 rating ... so I was waiting for an uncut release on disc or streaming platform now. But this isn't or wasn't succesful enough to make anyone think about an "uncut" release.

Also now that I have watched it ... I don't think a couple of extra seconds of "violence" (the reason this was initially getting an R rating) would not have swayed my opinion in any direction ... still it would have been nice. Having said all that, the quite buff Daniel Craig (you will see him shirtless - steady ladies and fellas who are into this) plays the main role. And while it may feel a bit like a mystery, anyone who has seen a few thrillers will not be too surprised where the movie will take us.

Having said all that, a lot of suspension of disbelief has to be done ... for you to enjoy the movie. Because even while a many years long gap is somewhat explained .. it is not really sufficient to make sense ... anyway, you'll know once you watch and actually think about it ... if you don't think about it, don't worry! Stellar cast and an intriguing story make this more than worthwhile ...

Maybe this film was released too soon after Shutter Island as it deals with delusional realities.

Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) leaves his successful publishing job in New York and moves to the suburb to spend more time with his wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and his daughters Trish and DeeDee as well as write a novel.

His family thinks a stranger is watching them and he notices tension between his neighbour and ex-husband. Will finds outs that five years earlier a man called Peter Ward killed his wife and his two daughters in the same house and that Ward spent five years in a psychiatric hospital but was recently released.

The deeper Will investigates the more disturbing is the truth he uncovers and that his wife and daughters may not be who he thinks they are.

The film is set up as a spooky, mystery house thriller. It starts off eerily and slowly. The picture reveals its twist midway through and then it suddenly perks up a lot. Its not the most in depth mystery and the casting of Craig and Weisz gives it more class than it deserves.

Naomi Watts and Elias Koteas are wasted in their roles. The production values are not always that great, the climatic fire scene is poorly realised.

I understand that the film was subject to studio interference. The result being the main stars and the director Jim Sheridan were unhappy with the film.

A passable and average thriller but Shutter Island is far superior.

In New York, the successful editor Will Atenton (Daniel Craig) quits his job in the GPH Publishers to move to the suburb New Ashford and dedicate more time to his beloved wife Libby (Rachel Weisz) and his daughters Trish (Taylor Geare) and DeeDee (Claire Geare) and to start writing a novel.

The family is frightened by a stranger watching them through the window and Will decides to investigate and finds teenagers in a satanic cult in his basement. Sooner he discovers that the family man Peter Ward killed his wife and his two daughters in that house five years ago. Will goes to the police but the officers do not give attention to him. He also learns that Peter Ward spent five years in the Greenhaven Psychiatric Hospital but was recently discharged.

Will tries to get more information about the murder with his neighbor on the other side of the street, the divorced Ann Patterson (Naomi Watts),but she refuses to give any information to him. Will decides to go to Greenhaven to get information about Peter Ward and he discloses a dark secret about the former intern that will affect his life in his dream house.

"Dream House" is a good mystery that deserved a better screenplay. The story has a great potential and a surprising plot point but does not develop well important characters and situations after the revelation of the mystery. Usually this type of twist happens in the end, like in "The Others", or "Ghost", or "Identity", or "The Sixty Sense". In "Dream House', the mystery is disclosed too early and the last twist is very weak and predictable. But anyway I liked this film.

Daniel Craig is one of my favorite contemporary actors and Rachel Weisz is impressively gorgeous. Naomi Watts is effective, as usual, and the relationship of Ann with her husband deserved a better development. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Casa dos Sonhos" ("The Dream House")

Note: On 31 March 2012, I saw this film again on Blu-Ray.