Sometimes our dreams are hard to understand. The people and places we see can feel so real, and yet they are a figment of our deepest imaginations. But what if we could all collectively share dreams—or at least an aspect of dreams? That’s the set up for the new film Dream Scenario, which is playing nationwide this week.

In the film, Paul Matthews (Nicholas Cage) is a mild-mannered professor living a simple, somewhat boring life. He’s got a wife (Julianne Nicholson) and two daughters (Jessica Clement and Lily Bird). He’s got a plan for writing a book but mostly is content teaching his classes. Suddenly, his life changes as he becomes the subject of dreams.

It seems people all over the world are dreaming of Paul. He discovers that, mostly, he’s a passive bystander in these dreams. But, still, it brings him newfound fame. He does interviews and seems to have a path to achieving his dream of becoming an author. All that quickly turns when the dreams in which he appears begin to change.

Instead of being a passive bystander, Paul turns into a nightmare for most that see him in their dreams. Suddenly, he becomes a villain, and it turns his popularity into something else. This new development not only threatens Paul’s dreams but his everyday life.

There’s a lot to potentially unpack in this film. Cage gives a great performance as Paul but the film itself takes some strange turns. The script comes from writer/director Kristoffer Borgli, and it starts as a clever idea. But the film’s later second and third act seems to drag on and there are some curious additions to the end of the film that didn’t quite work for me.

Overall, it’s a unique idea that provides some interesting fodder. As noted, I liked Cage’s performance, but I wish the story built around that was somewhat better. There are good moments here, but the film ultimately under-whelms a bit. It’s OK and an amusing watch at times but the meandering ending left me disappointed.

Dream Scenario is in limited release and is releasing in more theaters on Friday, December 1.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.