Review of Dreams in Nightmares: Shatara Michelle Ford’s Second Feature is a Profound Exploration of Healing and Aesthetic Beauty.

      Note: This review was initially published as part of our 2024 festival coverage. The film is set to premiere on August 21, 2026.

      Shatara Michelle Ford’s second feature, Dreams in Nightmares, is a heartfelt Black road trip film brimming with warmth, healing, and beauty. With her debut film, Test Pattern, Ford established herself as a vital new voice in Black cinema, focusing on the lives and challenges of Black women. In this new film, Ford explores similar themes with a broader perspective that includes Black femmes, queer love, and non-monogamous relationships. A balanced blend of comedy and drama, Dreams in Nightmares offers a casual yet cathartic experience.

      After being laid off from her teaching position, Z (Denée Benton) finds herself uncertain about her next steps. What is a creative writing professor to do without students? Does she truly want to teach, or is it time for a change? Z frequently dreams of a door opening to the unknown, yet she always wakes up before stepping through it. Her supportive partner Reece (Charlie Barnett) is much more assured, suggesting that now is the perfect opportunity to solidify their lives together by adding Z’s name to the deed of their shared home. It all seems almost too wonderful—the partner, the house, the chance to finally write her novel. However, Z is conflicted—are her hesitations due to the state of the world or her own insecurity? Or perhaps this is simply the first moment she has had to contemplate her options. Meanwhile, in New York City, her best friend Tasha (Sasha Compère) is also jobless and increasingly anxious about her living situation with her unreliable friend Lauren (Dezi Bing), whom she has been financially supporting. Amidst all this, their mutual friend Kel (Mars Storm Rucker) has seemingly vanished. On a whim, Z decides to fly to New York to reunite with her friends and embark on a cross-country road trip to find Kel.

      The story that unfolds is one of three Black queer femmes grappling with themselves and their relationships as they navigate an uncertain future. The backdrop of their journey is marked by economic inequality, anti-trans legislation, insufficient funding and employment in the arts, and a sense of community loss, which enriches each scene. Each member of the friend group has a background in the arts—be it writing, poetry, visual art, or performance. In a particularly memorable moment, they attend a poetry reading hosted by a striking trans poet who briefly captivates the audience. Dreams in Nightmares emphasizes the intertwining of art, life, and friendship. Regardless of the occasional conflicts, the time Z, Tasha, and Lauren share together is portrayed as beautiful, valuable, and integral to their creative pursuits.

      Ford’s evident affection for these characters shines through in every frame. The warmth of their skin, the beauty of their hair, and their tender embraces feel revolutionary to see on the big screen. Seven years have passed since Girls Trip—already somewhat dated upon its release—and it's refreshing to witness a diverse group of queer Black femmes, varied in gender identity and open in their sexuality, enjoying each other's company on screen. The film feels relevant because it realistically portrays the daily struggles of life without resorting to exaggerated melodrama or despair. Dreams in Nightmares stands as a radically optimistic film for our challenging times.

      Dreams in Nightmares made its debut at the BlackStar Film Festival.

      Grade: B+