Dream Demon

Dream Demon

Year: 1988

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: Harley Cokeliss

Horror

As her wedding nears, Diana, engaged to war hero Oliver, moves into a vacant apartment in a sprawling London house. She is haunted by vivid, terrifying nightmares that may be more than anxiety. Pressed by two sleazy journalists, she encounters American tourist Jenny, whose uncanny link to the house’s dark past deepens the terror.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Dream Demon yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Dream Demon (1988)

Trace every key event in Dream Demon (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Wedding plans shadowed by nightmares

Diana Markham, a London schoolteacher, is preparing to marry Oliver when nightly visions intrude on her reality. In these dreams, Oliver acts out violent, coercive scenes that blur sex and danger. The unsettling imagery foreshadows threats that threaten both her relationship and her sense of safety.

Leading up to the wedding London, Diana's home
2

Move into new home; visions begin

Soon after moving into her new home, Diana experiences fiery visions of a young blonde girl with angel wings. She also develops a fear of the basement, feeling that the house itself is haunted. The unsettling visions begin to intrude on her daily life.

Shortly after moving in Diana's new home
3

Therapist frames dreams as stress responses

Deborah, Diana's therapist, tells her the dreams are a product of wedding stress and media harassment. She suggests there is no simple medical cause, but that emotional strain is shaping what Diana experiences. The discussion lays the groundwork for the idea that dreams can influence waking life.

Early in the process Therapist's office
4

Harassment outside; Jenny intervenes

Photographer Peck and journalist Paul harass Diana outside her home, but Jenny, a tourist from Los Angeles, fights them off. After the confrontation, Diana invites Jenny in for a drink and to talk. The two women begin to form an uneasy alliance.

Later that day Outside Diana's home, then inside
5

Jenny reveals purpose; they plan to meet

Jenny confesses she is visiting to uncover her family origins, as she was adopted and has no memory of her biological parents who once lived at Diana's address. The revelation strengthens their bond as they decide to meet again the following day. The moment plants the seed for a shared journey into the past.

That evening Diana's home
6

Nightmare: Peck breaks in

That night, Diana experiences a hallucinogenic nightmare in which Peck breaks into her house and assaults her. The vivid intrusion reinforces the sense that danger has followed her beyond ordinary life. The dream structure hints at a deeper threat tied to her relationships.

Night Diana's home
7

Morning discovery: Paul found in basement; Peck missing

In the morning, Diana and Jenny find Paul in the home's basement, where he threatens Diana and reveals that Peck has gone missing. The discovery blurs the line between dream and reality, as danger seems to lurk in the physical space. Diana's sense of safety continues to erode.

Morning Diana's home basement
8

Diana opens up about marriage and virginity

Shortly after the incident, Diana confides to Jenny about her anxieties regarding the marriage and admits she is a virgin. The admission deepens their emotional connection and shifts the dynamic from ally to confidant. The vulnerability underscores the personal stakes of the upcoming wedding.

Afternoon Diana's home
9

Jenny's hallucination foreshadows truth

Later that night, Jenny experiences a hallucination in which she is attacked by a deformed Peck and witnesses a young blonde girl being verbally abused by her father. She flees and wakes Diana, ending the apparitions for the moment. The event hints at buried trauma connecting Jenny to the house.

Night Diana's home
10

Astral projection theory introduced

Deborah suggests that Jenny may have astral projected and that Diana's dreams have a real impact on waking life. The group realizes there is a link between dream events and what occurs when they are awake. This sets the stage for exploring the supernatural mechanism behind their experiences.

Shortly after the nightmare Therapist's office
11

Return to the home; visions intensify; Jenny flees to hotel

The women return to the home and are plagued by shared visions anchored to the basement. Terrified, Jenny decides to return to her hotel in Los Angeles, insisting the house is haunted. Diana remains behind, wary of what the morning might bring.

Next day Diana's home; Jenny's hotel
12

Paul's revelation about Oliver; another nightmare

Paul arrives at Jenny's hotel, revealing that Oliver is financially ruined and only marrying Diana for money. Diana begins to dream again while Jenny attempts to wake her; Diana slips into another nightmare featuring deformed Paul and Peck. The lines between waking life and dream blur further.

Night Jenny's hotel room
13

Hospitalization and brainwave monitoring; Jenny's past revealed on film

Diana is hospitalized and strapped to a brainwave monitor as she astral-projects. Deborah watches old footage of the young blonde girl in a therapy session, discovering the girl is actually Jenny as a child. The discovery reframes the haunting as a shared past reaching into the present.

During treatment Hospital
14

Astral rescue and unearthed trauma

In the astral plane, Diana returns to the home and saves Jenny, who is trapped in a void. The two are briefly separated, and Jenny relives her repressed childhood trauma—her abusive father and a fateful fire in which he burned. Diana frees and accompanies the grown Jenny away from the danger.

During astral projection Astral plane; Diana's home
15

Gravesite remembrance and final twist

The women visit Jenny's father's gravestone, which bears a stone cast of Jenny with angel wings, tying the past to the present. Back at the empty home, an alive Peck and Paul suddenly return, hinting that the haunting is not finished. Diana and Jenny begin a new chapter together, with evidence that the past still lingers.

After their escape Jenny's father's grave; empty home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:20

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Dream Demon

Don't stop at just watching — explore Dream Demon in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Dream Demon is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Dream Demon Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Dream Demon, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Dream Demon Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dream Demon

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Dream Demon. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Dream Demon

More About Dream Demon

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Dream Demon: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Dream Demon

Similar Movies to Dream Demon

Discover movies like Dream Demon that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.