I’m convinced that Norwegian writer/director Kristoffer Borgli found a way to enter into my dreams and subconscious. That’s the only way I can explain how Dream Scenario and his previous film, Sick of Myself, feel so tailor-made for me. A dark comedy about a flawed protagonist struggling with loneliness, sign me up! Distributed by A24 and produced by Ari Aster, Dream Scenario is visually stunning, completely original, and most excitingly: refreshingly weird. In a somewhat meta role for Nicolas Cage, who is used to his “memeification” at this stage in his career, Dream Scenario is a film I didn’t want to wake up from.

Paul Matthews (Nicolas Cage) is a middle-aged, married, father of two. He is a tenured professor at the local university and is content with his life in upper-middle-class suburbia. Everything about Paul is ordinary, and that is fine with him. He is comfortable with the way things are. Each day carries on just like every other until, in a bizarre turn of events, Paul is informed that people have been unexplainably dreaming about him at night. His daughter, his students, his colleagues, and his former ex-girlfriend have all seen Paul in their dreams, which are surreally depicted in various degrees. What starts out as a couple of strange coincidences turns into an international phenomenon when total strangers report seeing Paul appear in their dreams as well. Soon enough, this ordinary man becomes the most talked about person on the planet, catapulting him into a worldwide celebrity with a fan base that the Kardashians would be jealous of.

Just as quickly as his 15 minutes of fame falls into his lap, it ruthlessly begins to fade. The dreams that were once harmless sharply turn into night terrors, with people fearing for their safety, even if they are close to Paul in real life. Paul initially had no control over his stardom and now realizes that his downfall is out of his hands as well. His wife (Julianne Nicholson) grows frustrated with Paul’s explosive behavior at home, his children (Jessica Clement and Lily Bird) become embarrassed by him, and his managers (Michael Cera and Kate Berlant) become desperate to secure opportunities for their once-celebrity client. In a twisted turn of fate, Paul’s rise to fame and subsequent fall into obscurity leaves him destitute, heartbroken, and delusional.

Through Dream Scenario, Kristoffer Borgli explores themes of modern celebrity and hive mentality with sharp, edgy humor. The premise is totally wacky and yet with every scene, I fall deeper in love with Paul Matthews and start to develop a sense of protectiveness around him. The script is something special and only could have been brought to life by one man: Nicolas Cage. His performance is masterfully measured and equally unhinged in all of the right moments (Paul Matthews and Paul Hunham from Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers would definitely be the friends who drink scotch and complain about their bratty students in an alternate universe). Cage is magnetic in both solo scenes and acting alongside the always fabulous Julianne Nicholson. Cage agrees with the film’s specialness, saying, “It was one of the best scripts I’ve read, quite frankly, and I think it’s my best performance and probably the best movie I’ve ever made.”

On the craft side, exceptional editing by Borgli acts as an omniscient character that further aids in punchlines and humorous moments. The score by composer Owen Pallett is much more grounded than the film itself, mirroring the stable and steady life Paul had before he shot to stardom. An assortment of strings and simple melodies from a grand piano create a classical sound that is unexpected for this zany of a film. As a chamber music composer, Pallett brings his experience working with esteemed groups and artists–including The National Ballet of Canada, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Frank Ocean, and Sigur Rós–to this dark comedy. The Dream Scenario score could have easily gone in the direction of Son Lux x Everything Everywhere All At Once or Colin Stetson x Hereditary, but the decision to explore simple, more organic sounds feels like the right call here. While the score breathes, it allows the stellar sound design to get noticed.

Dream Scenario is one of the most unforgettable films of the year and will no doubt put Kristoffer Borgli’s name in the mainstream consciousness. Fans of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Curb Your Enthusiasm will find tonal similarities abound in Dream Scenario although the film successfully carves out a niche for itself as a wholly original concept. It’s not a stretch to say that Nic Cage may find himself the darling of awards season once again. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?