Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams
Summary
While every episode ofJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsis fairly self-coloured , some are good than others . An Indonesian sci - fi anthology series , Nightmares and Daydreamsis also one of2024 ’s best revulsion TV shows . Across seven distinct - yet - interconnected instalment , writer - director Joko Anwar ( Satan ’s Slaves , Impetigore)chronicles the misadventures of a on the face of it disparate ensemble of people . Some character want nothing more than to protect their have it away ones , while others go to utmost lengths for money . Whatever their effort , Anwar ’s characters are passionate — and met by improbably unknown happenings that upend their realities .
In many ways , Joko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsis resonant ofGuillermo del Toro ’s Cabinet of Curiosities — another anthology horror series — but it also contains shades ofThe Twilight Zone , Black Mirror , andJordan Peele ’s best movies . For fans of Mike Flanagan ’s brand of horror , there ’s even a bolt ofMidnight MassinNightmares and Daydreams ’ DNA , especially in episodes that cope with good vs. malign ribbon of scriptural dimension . Set in Jakarta , the series tincture these influences with a distinct perspective . And , much like other horror behemoth , Anwar creates incredibly compelling , curious imagesthat are certain to haunt viewers .
Joko Anwar ’s Nightmares & Daydreams is a corking new addition to the horror anthology writing style , but there are stack of others to check out .
7Encounter
Episode 4
The fourth instalment ofJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsisn’t speculative by any stretch of the Book . The installation , which chronicle a fisher ’s battle to lay aside up the money he require to locate his female parent , just is n’t as good as other sequence in the series . It ’s quite an accomplishment to have an anthology composed of all good ( or outstanding ) sequence — that ’s certainly something that plant Anwar ’s workplace apart from other literary genre giant . Still , something has to end up in the 7th spot , and it ’s “ Encounter ” — the tale of a desperate fisher and his god - fearing community .
[ " Encounter " is ] like to some of the most depressing episodes of Black Mirror …
At first , the fisher ’s married woman is supportive of his driveway to work for money to find his mother , who abandoned him as a child , but she becomes increasingly unbelieving of the office . One night , the fisherman ends up produce photographic grounds of an saint . ( Fans ofMidnight Massmight find the concept familiar . ) While the trial impression makes him the talk of the village , the fisherman ’s personal lifetime does n’t make out so well . standardized to some of the most depressingepisodes ofBlack Mirror , " Encounter " just does n’t work as well as other installments , but it ’s still a worthwhile ticker .
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
6Hypnotized
Episode 6
" mesmerise , " the sixth episode in Anwar ’s anthology series , centers on a colorblind lineman , Ali , who learns how to hypnotize mass . When the persona use his newfound ability to rob a woman , his life takes a turn — for the uncollectible . Any viewer ofThe Twilight ZoneorBlack Mirrorcould have forecasted the character reference ’s misstep , but that ’s just about the only affair that ’s even gently predictable aboutJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsseason 1 , episode 6 . Like other weaker episodes , however , it ’s a must - follow for the anthology ’s overarching narrativeto gibe together as well as it does .
… [ it ] hammers home the interlink nature of Anwar ’s otherwise - standalone stories .
Full of twists and flex , " hypnotise " is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats . In some ways , it ’s one of the most suspenseful — if not the most suspenseful — episodes of Joko Anwar ’s anthology series . As mentioned , the 6th chapter really figures intoNightmares and Daydreams ' final episode , which hammers home the interconnect nature of Anwar ’s otherwise - standalone news report . fill with the purple gleam of projection screen , the sequence also features some of the show ’s most striking visuals . Despite all these pros , " Hypnotized " does n’t reach the same senior high school as other episode , but it ’s more engaging than the slowburn “ Encounter . ”
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams is an anthology series that explores psychological horror and supernatural phenomena through various standalone episodes. Directed by Joko Anwar, the show features diverse narratives that delve into the human psyche’s darker aspects, including fear, guilt, and the unknown. Each episode presents unique storylines and characters, offering a compelling exploration of terror and wonder within everyday settings.
5The Orphan
Episode 2
The titulary orphan in episode 2 ofJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsbrings wealth to all those who adopt him . However , much like inThe Ring , those involved will flex up dead just seven days afterwards . While the swap - off does n’t seem like an beguiling vista , it does set upone of the mostTwilight zona - same stories in Anwar ’s anthology . Given just how in - your - face unusual and unsettling the first cult - fill up installment is , the second outing ’s more traditional glide slope to TV horror place the series ’ range on full showing and provides something a little more accessible for literary genre newcomer .
… its exploration of the moral questions at free rein is fresh and challenging …
In the second episode , a grieve couple decides to dramatise the orphan , putting their lives at jeopardy . At first , the distich are at odds with each other over how to handle their unique situation , but , at long last , they organize a system to seemingly avoid their looming day - seven deadline . With a built - in countdown , the fib is packed with tension and heightened stake . Although“The Orphan ” lean to a great extent on genre image , particularly where its title character is concerned , its geographic expedition of the moral question at play is fresh and intriguing , which make for a substantial outing .
4The Other Side
Episode 5
“ The Other Side ” feel like an sequence of Jordan Peele’sTwilight Zonemashed together witha less technologically - qualified episode ofBlack Mirror . It ’s something that ’s eery in an almost phantasmal way of life that kind of blur the boundary between reality and the fantastical . Not every episode of Anwar ’s anthology go all in on that component , opt to keep it as a prompting in the background . The episode begins when a man on a bus take in sight of his old workplace — an abandoned film dramaturgy . Or , at least , it seems desolate from the exterior .
… the emotional highs and Low are definitely well worth the price of admission .
When he walk inside , however , the military personnel discovers the movie house to be full of life and colourful characters . After being wholly force into the movie dramatic art ’s alluring energy , the man let out that two geezerhood have passed in the outside world , which direct to issues in his personal living and with his family . There ’s no doubt that"The Other Side " is a melancholy installmentin Joko Anwar’sNightmares and Daydreams . It is reminiscent of something likeClickbut with way less obvious aroused manipulation . Even so , the emotional highs and low are definitely well worth the price of admission .
3Old House
Episode 1
For the pilot episode , " Old House " does a wonderful job of setting the tone and air for the anthology series . It teases the show ’s cryptical traditional knowledge , all while featuring an implausibly creepy-crawly fad of hooded figures and strong performances — and the anthology is really full of compelling performances from a talented cast that can sell both the grounded and the unreal with adequate ease . That said,“Old House ” is a upstanding standalone outing that more than compels viewers to click " next"when Netflix cue them to continue watchingJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreams .
The unsettled taxi driver heads to the nursing home to recollect his female parent …
The episode opens with a cab driver receive an invitation for his ailing mother to live in an upscale nursing house . At first , he is n’t concerned in prosecute the invite , but circumstances finally force his mitt , prompting the cab driver to begrudgingly take the offer . Feeling that something is n’t quite right , the unsettled taxi equipment driver heads to the nursing home to think his mother . Of course , that ’s easier said than done . In a “ Hotel California”-style pull , checking out of the breast feeding home plate is a virtually - impossible taskfull of shocking turns and chilling showdown .
2P.O. BOX
Episode 7
compose and directed by Joko Anwar , " P.O. BOX " is the 7th and net episode ofJoko Anwar’sNightmares and Daydreams . Of course , any serial finale has just as much riding on it as the first episode of the season . rather of lay out the feeling and encouraging viewers to continue watching , the finish of a repulsion - sports meeting - sci - fi anthology ask to finger both surprising yet inevitable — and , in this vitrine , tie up a bunch of on the face of it disparate threads . Thankfully for viewer , the seventh episode of the anthology accomplishes that — and makes a 2d season even more likable .
The conspiracy that she unearths is improbably shocking — in the very best manner .
In " P.O. BOX , " a woman is dedicated to finding her miss sister , who has been out of the picture for five years . When a clue surfaces that involves the titular P.O. box and a mysterious job listing , the woman decides to investigate further . The cabal that she unearth is incredibly shocking — in the very good way . Although all the show ’s episodes tease larger connections , installment 7 links them together in a rather unexpected but completely satisfy personal manner , construct it not just a capital conclusion forNightmares and Daydreamsseason 1 , but a bright index for succeeding instalment .
1Poems & Pain
Episode 3
In “ Poems & Pain , ” a bestselling writer pens a bomb , leading to some down - on - her - luck times . Eager to find her status and success , the source compose a sequel to her most well - be intimate book . The catch , however , is that it physically harms the author to write the Quran that fans desire the most . However , that is n’t the only shameful moment in thisX - Files - suffer - Twilight - Zonemash - up . brood in bruises but flush in Sir Frederick Handley Page , the writer actualize that she has a rather intense connection to her protagonisttoo . And that ’s what really prompt her to take action .
… the author gets involved in a compelling probe to link up with this supposed real - life person .
Convinced that the fiber in her novel is existent , the writer gets involve in a compelling probe to connect with this supposed literal - life person . In addition to being a pitch - utter standalone episode , the harrowing third installment does a lot of world - construction . Put simply , " Poems & Pain " crack the world ofJoko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamswide open , iterate the depth of the serial ' narrative and lore . Without episode 3 , the anthology ’s overarching narrative might not have the same gut - punch .
Joko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreamsseason 1 is now stream on Netflix .
Joko Anwar ’s Nightmares and Daydreams is an anthology series that explore psychological horror and supernatural phenomena through various standalone episodes . Directed by Joko Anwar , the show features diverse narratives that delve into the human psyche ’s darker aspects , include fear , guilt , and the unknown . Each episode present unique storylines and characters , propose a compelling exploration of terror and wonder within workaday stage setting .
