DAYDREAM NATION (Michael Goldbach). 98 minutes. Opens Friday (April 15). See listing. Rating: NNN
Michael Goldbach’s fine debut deserves to be seen just for the risks it takes. Caroline (Kat Dennings) has just moved with her dad to a sleepy small town after her mother’s death. She’s smarter than everybody else at her high school and can’t connect with anybody but her history teacher (Josh Lucas).
Writer/director Goldbach creates a strong sense of alienation as the kids do whatever drugs they can find – or invent, and a serial killer on the loose sets up a backdrop of growing terror. Though some threads are left dangling, the narrative careens to a powerful climax.
The big story here is rising star Dennings (Defendor, Nick And Nora’s Infinite Playlist), who’s compelling as the teenager trying to take control of her life – and the men around her. She’s a big star in the making. Cool Canuck indie tunes, too, especially the closing track by Metric.
See NOW’s TIFF cover interview with Kat Dennings