This Robin Williams Fantasy Drama Received Only 51% on RT – But It Deserves So Much More

Robin Williams is primarily known as a brilliant comedian, but he has proven throughout his career that he is equally adept at drama. His list of serious roles is impressive: Dead Poets Society, Awakenings, and Good Will Hunting.

However, one brilliant movie in his filmography received a mere 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes – which is obviously unfair.

What Dreams May Come is a stunning, visually dazzling, and heartbreaking story about a love that transcends death, hell, and heaven.

What Is 'What Dreams May Come' About?

Dr. Chris dies in a car accident. Having gained immortality, he tries to stay close to his mortal wife, Annie. He adjusts to his new existence in Paradise, a colorful, idyllic world shaped by his desires and partly based on Annie's paintings.

However, when Annie commits suicide out of grief, she is cursed and banished to Hell for eternity. Chris desperately tries to find her.

No one has ever succeeded in saving a sinful soul from its well-deserved retribution. Nevertheless, Chris decides to undertake the most dangerous journey of his afterlife – he descends into Hell, either to save his wife or to remain there with her forever.

'What Dreams May Come' Is a Visual Masterpiece With a Surprise Cameo From Werner Herzog

Rightfully considered one of the most bizarre and visually inventive interpretations of heaven and hell in cinematic history, What Dreams May Come is a true visual feast.

In this film, heaven is a living painting, a world woven from brushstrokes of oil paint and childhood fantasies. Hell, on the other hand, is not a fiery pit but rather an endless field of human faces that personify mental anguish and nightmares.

In this scene, viewers are treated to an unexpected cameo. As Robin Williams's character navigates the circles of hell, one of the faces suddenly calls out to him, calling him Klaus. The role of the mistaken sinner is played by the renowned German director Werner Herzog.

The name Klaus was chosen for a reason. Herzog worked with actor Klaus Kinski for many years, and their frequent conflicts, sparked by Kinski's bad temper, culminated in Herzog's wishes for Kinski to end up in hell.

'What Dreams May Come' Is a Film About a Love So Strong That It Transcends Heaven and Hell

What Dreams May Come isn't so much a movie about the afterlife as it is a story about the power of love to overcome any obstacle. Chris sacrifices heaven and the fulfillment of his dreams to descend into hell and save his seemingly hopeless wife.

What could compel someone to abandon heaven and willingly enter hell? What drives us forward when everything else tells us to stop and find peace? Only love.

Robin Williams delivers one of the most powerful and heartbreaking performances of his career, proving that his dramatic talent knows no bounds. What Dreams May Come is a heart-wrenching film that critics have underestimated.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'What Dreams May Come'?

• What Dreams May Come has 51% from critics and 84% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.0/10.

• On Letterboxd, What Dreams May Come scored 3.5/5.0.

Where to Watch 'What Dreams May Come'?

What Dreams May Come is available to stream on Netflix.