• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Movie Review – How to Stop a Recurring Dream (2021)

March 5, 2021 by Lauren Miles

How to Stop a Recurring Dream, 2021.

Directed by Ed Morris.
Starring Ruby Barker, Lily-Rose Aslandogdu, Jamie Michie, Miranda Nolan, and Andre Flynn.

SYNOPSIS:

When her father (Michie) and step-mother (Nolan) decide to separate, Yakira (Barker) becomes panicked at the idea of losing her family. Having already experienced the loss of her mother, she kidnaps her younger half-sister Kelly (Aslandogdu), in the hope that they can repair their strained relationship before they are forced apart.

Ruby Barker and Lily-Rose Aslandogdu are the stars of the show in this gritty, realist drama. They capture perfectly the feelings of helplessness that coincide with the breakdown of the family, and the resentment that bubbles beneath the surface of their relationship, resulting from them having different mums. Yakira struggles to get along with Kelly, who was born only a year after her own mother’s death. Her younger sister reminds her of how quickly her father moved on. Her life changed so quickly that she had no time to properly grieve for her mother, and this is reflected in a recurring dream that haunts her.

How to Stop a Recurring Dream is named after Yakira’s repeating nightmare, where she is stuck in the hospital, at her mothers side. She tries to pick her up, to shake her awake, but it is a hopeless cause. The surrealism of the dream is a break from the films’ realist style. Not only is it interesting and refreshing stylistically, it also serves as a constant crushing reminder of the fact that Yakira is fuelled by her grief, and a need to form a connection with her new family that has so far eluded her. Barker plays Yakira as tough and down-to-earth, but there is an undercurrent of internalised pain that makes her performance so compelling.

Aslandogdu performs just as well as Kelly, who is approaching her teenage years. She stomps, groans, and shouts her way through the film with an appropriate and believable amount of snark. Her moodiness is so authentic and grating that you wouldn’t blame Yakira for turning straight round and taking her home. Kelly might be a hard character to sympathise with, but Aslandogdu doesn’t hold anything back in her performance. The character’s misbehaviour serves to further highlight how her and Yakira are treated so differently.

While the majority of the film hones in on the strained relationship between Kelly and Yakira, and their panicked parents, there is also the introduction of a much more action-packed subplot. On their journey, they pick up a hitch hiker with unknown motives (Flynn). This secondary plot plays out to mixed effect. It undoubtedly adds a new level of tension and excitement, but the stranger also detracts attention away from the sisters. It’s hard not to feel that the addition of a new character is unnecessary, and only serves to muddy the films’ waters when the heartfelt story of family, grief, and bonding was more than enough.

How to Stop a Recurring Dream combines traditional British realism with surreal dream sequences and crime thriller levels of tension. It is an exciting and touching tale of how grief can break families apart, but also bring them back together.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

Lauren Miles is a freelance film and television journalist who loves all things gothic, fantasy and film noir. She has an MA in Multimedia Journalism and is also a Halloween enthusiast and cat lady. You can find her on Twitter @Lauren_M1les.

Filed Under: Lauren Miles, Movies, Reviews Tagged With: Andre Flynn, Ed Morris, How to Stop a Recurring Dream, Jamie Michie, Lily-Rose Aslandogdu, Miranda Nolan, Ruby Barker

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Ranking Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Post-Governator Starring Roles

Back to the Future at 40: The Story Behind the Pop Culture Touchstone

Max Headroom: The Story Behind the 80s A.I. Icon

The Essential Horror-Comedy Movies of the 21st Century

7 Rotten Horror Movies That Deserve A Second Chance

Lifeforce: A Film Only Cannon Could Have Made

Movies That Actually Really Need A Remake!

Ranking Bad E.T. Rip-Offs From Worst to Watchable

The Legacy of Avatar: The Last Airbender 20 Years On

Ten Great 80s Movie Stars Who Disappeared

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

Eight Essential Sci-Fi Prison Movies

Movie Review – Hamnet (2025)

10 Great Forgotten Gems of the 1980s You Need To See

The Witcher season 4 first look introduces Liam Hemsworth’s Geralt of Rivia

10 More International Horror Movies You Need to See

Movie Review – Little Lorraine (2025)

Movie Review – Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025)

Movie Review – Night of the Reaper (2025)

Movie Review – Nouvelle Vague (2025)

Movie Review – Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Best Eiza González Movies

13 Underrated Horror Franchise Sequels That Deserve More Love

Peeping Tom: A Voyeuristic Masterpiece of the Slasher Subgenre

7 Great NEON Horror Movies That Deserve Your Attention

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket