Mar 21, 2003 By Lou Gaul Calkins Media Film Critic 3 min read

When writing “Dreamcatcher,” Stephen King seems to have thrown a bunch of ideas at the wall to see what would stick. Not surprisingly, the R-rated adaptation of the best seller provides a cinematic smorgasbord that’s part buddy picture, military thriller, creature feature and sci-fi fantasy.

Although dramatically overcooked and ultimately underdeveloped, “Dreamcatcher” still provides some well-done thrills as five lifelong friends who share a special psychic gift save the world from flesh-devouring invading extraterrestrials who would give Flash Gordon, Dr. Who and Lt. Ellen Ripley some sleepless nights.

As the story begins, four of the friends – Henry (Thomas Jane of “The Sweetest Thing”), Beaver (Jason Lee of “Vanilla Sky”), Jonesy (Damian Lewis of HBO’s “Band of Brothers”) and Pete (Timothy Olyphant of “The Safety of Objects”) – gather for the 20th time at a remote cabin to enjoy a few days of swapping stories, stalking deer and sharing jokes. After initially touching upon lowered expectations about their personal and professional lives, the four recall Duddits (Donnie Wahlberg of “The Sixth Sense”), a mentally challenged man whom they saved from some sadistic teenagers years ago and who then became part of their lives.

In gratitude for their good deed, Duddits had passed a psychic ability that allows the close friends to know what each other is thinking. That gift gains added importance when slimy eel-like aliens with teeth the size of steak knives and an ability to possess the minds of human hosts begin an attack on our planet.

The friends must also deal with a mysterious military officer, Col. Curtis (Morgan Freeman of “Seven”), who has devoted two-and-a-half decades to destroying extraterrestrial invaders.

The no-nonsense military man and his second-in-command, Underhill (Tom Sizemore of “Black Hawk Down”), have also slaughtered all humans who could have possibly come in contact with the creatures and may carry an “infection” from the germs that causes them to become flesh-and-blood hosts.

Director Lawrence Kasdan, best known for touchy-feely hits such as “The Big Chill” and “Grand Canyon,” seems a strange choice to direct “Dreamcatcher.”

Even though the picture runs well over two hours, the filmmaker fails to fully develop any character in the movie.

The filmmaker also downplays the us-versus-them battles with the aliens (digitally created by George Lucas’ famed special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic).

Fortunately, he creates some truly intense moments, though the second half of the picture goes off course when one of the friends becomes possessed by an alien, and it’s difficult for a viewer to fully conceive what’s happening to him.

No one, however, can deny the timeliness of “Dreamcatcher.”

The expensive picture contains a sinister subtext that suggests the creatures from space are like the terrorists from the Middle East who blend into the fabric of our daily lives.

And then they can strike with lethal force at any time in the most unexpected places.

That’s truly a frightening thought.

FILM REVIEW

“Dreamcatcher”

Grade: B-

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Damian Lewis, Timothy Olyphant and Donnie Wahlberg; screenplay by William Goldman and Lawrence Kasdan, based on the novel by Stephen King; produced by Lawrence Kasdan and Charles Okun; directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

Running Time: 135 minutes.

Parental Guide: R rating (very strong violence, harsh four-letter profanity).