Summary
While every episode ofJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsis pretty solid, some are better than others. An Indonesian sci-fi anthology series,Nightmares and Daydreamsis also one of2024’s best horror TV shows. Across seven distinct-yet-interconnected episodes, writer-director Joko Anwar (Satan’s Slaves,Impetigore)chronicles the misadventures of a seemingly disparate ensemble of people. Some characters want nothing more than to protect their loved ones, while others go to extreme lengths for money. Whatever their drive, Anwar’s characters are passionate — and met by incredibly strange happenings that upend their realities.
In many ways,Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsis reminiscent ofGuillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities— another anthology horror series — but it also contains shades ofThe Twilight Zone,Black Mirror, andJordan Peele’s best movies. For fans of Mike Flanagan’s brand of horror, there’s even a dash ofMidnight MassinNightmares and Daydreams’ DNA, especially in episodes that deal with good vs. evil threads of Biblical proportions. Set in Jakarta, the series infuses these influences with a distinct perspective. And, much like other horror giants,Anwar creates incredibly compelling, singular imagesthat are sure to haunt viewers.
10 Best Horror Anthology Shows To Watch Like Joko Anwar’s Nightmares & Daydreams
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares & Daydreams is a great new addition to the horror anthology genre, but there are plenty of others to check out.
7Encounter
Episode 4
The fourth episode ofJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsisn’t bad by any stretch of the word. The installment, which chronicles a fisherman’s struggle to save up the money he needs to locate his mother, just isn’t as good as other episodes in the series. It’s quite an achievement to have an anthology composed of all good (or great) episodes — that’s certainly something that sets Anwar’s work apart from other genre titans. Still,something has to end up in the seventh spot, and it’s “Encounter”— the tale of a desperate fisherman and his god-fearing community.
[“Encounter” is] similar to some of the most depressing episodes of Black Mirror…
At first, the fisherman’s wife is supportive of his drive to work for money to find his mother, who abandoned him as a child, but she becomes increasingly skeptical of the situation. One night,the fisherman ends up acquiring photographic evidence of an angel. (Fans ofMidnight Massmight find the concept familiar.) While the proof makes him the talk of the village, the fisherman’s personal life doesn’t fare so well. Similar to some of the most depressingepisodes ofBlack Mirror, “Encounter” just doesn’t work as well as other installments, but it’s still a worthwhile watch.
6Hypnotized
Episode 6
“Hypnotized,” the sixth episode in Anwar’s anthology series, centers on a colorblind electrician, Ali, who learns how to hypnotize people. When the character uses his newfound ability to rob a woman, his life takes a turn — for the worse. Any viewer ofThe Twilight ZoneorBlack Mirrorcould have forecasted the character’s misstep, but that’s just about the only thing that’s even mildly predictable aboutJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsseason 1, episode 6. Like other weaker episodes, however,it’s a must-watch for the anthology’s overarching narrativeto fit together as well as it does.
…[it] hammers home the interconnected nature of Anwar’s otherwise-standalone stories.
Full of twists and turns, “Hypnotized” is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. In some ways, it’s one of the most suspenseful — if not the most suspenseful — episodes of Joko Anwar’s anthology series. As mentioned, the sixth chapter really figures intoNightmares and Daydreams' final episode, which hammers home the interconnected nature of Anwar’s otherwise-standalone stories. Filled with the purple glow of screens,the episode also features some of the show’s most striking visuals. Despite all these pros, “Hypnotized” doesn’t reach the same highs as other episodes, but it’s more engaging than the slowburn “Encounter.”
5The Orphan
Episode 2
The titular orphan in episode 2 ofJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsbrings wealth to all those who adopt him. However, much like inThe Ring, those involved will turn up dead just seven days later. While the trade-off doesn’t seem like an enticing prospect, it does set upone of the mostTwilight Zone-like stories in Anwar’s anthology. Given just how in-your-face strange and unsettling the first cult-filled episode is, the second outing’s more traditional approach to TV horror puts the series’ range on full display and provides something a little more accessible for genre newcomers.
… its exploration of the moral questions at play is fresh and intriguing…
In the second episode, a grieving couple decides to adopt the orphan, putting their lives at risk. At first, the pair are at odds with each other over how to handle their unique situation, but, ultimately, they devise a scheme to seemingly avoid their looming day-seven deadline. With a built-in countdown, the story is packed with tension and heightened stakes. Although“The Orphan” leans heavily on genre tropes, especially where its title character is concerned, its exploration of the moral questions at play is fresh and intriguing, which makes for a solid outing.
4The Other Side
Episode 5
“The Other Side” feels like an episode of Jordan Peele’sTwilight Zonemashed together witha less technologically-dependent episode ofBlack Mirror. It’s something that’s eerie in an almost ghostly way that kind of blurs the boundaries between reality and the fantastical. Not every episode of Anwar’s anthology goes all in on that element, preferring to keep it as a suggestion in the background. The episode begins when a man on a bus catches sight of his old workplace — an abandoned movie theater. Or, at least, it seems abandoned from the outside.
…the emotional highs and lows are definitely well worth the price of admission.
When he walks inside, however, the man discovers the cinema to be full of life and colorful characters. After being wholly drawn into the movie theater’s alluring energy, the man discovers that two years have passed in the outside world, which leads to issues in his personal life and with his family. There’s no doubt that"The Other Side" is a melancholy installmentin Joko Anwar’sNightmares and Daydreams. It is reminiscent of something likeClickbut with way less obvious emotional manipulation. Even so, the emotional highs and lows are definitely well worth the price of admission.
3Old House
Episode 1
For the pilot episode, “Old House” does a wonderful job of setting the tone and atmosphere for the anthology series. It teases the show’s deeper lore, all while featuring an incredibly creepy cult of hooded figures and strong performances — and the anthology is really full of compelling performances from a talented cast that can sell both the grounded and the unreal with equal ease. That said,“Old House” is a solid standalone outing that more than compels viewers to click “next"when Netflix prompts them to continue watchingJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams.
The unsettled taxi driver heads to the nursing home to retrieve his mother…
The episode opens with a cab driver receiving an invitation for his ailing mother to live in an upscale nursing home. At first, he isn’t interested in pursuing the invite, but circumstances ultimately force his hand, prompting the cab driver to begrudgingly accept the offer. Feeling that something isn’t quite right, the unsettled taxi driver heads to the nursing home to retrieve his mother. Of course, that’s easier said than done. In a “Hotel California”-style twist,checking out of the nursing home is a near-impossible taskfull of shocking turns and chilling encounters.
2P.O. BOX
Episode 7
Written and directed by Joko Anwar, “P.O. BOX” is the seventh and final episode ofJoko Anwar’sNightmares and Daydreams. Of course, any series finale has just as much riding on it as the first episode of the season. Instead of setting the tone and encouraging viewers to continue watching,the finale of a horror-meets-sci-fi anthology needs to feel both surprising yet inevitable— and, in this case, tie up a bunch of seemingly disparate threads. Thankfully for viewers, the seventh episode of the anthology accomplishes that — and makes a second season even more appealing.
The conspiracy that she unearths is incredibly shocking — in the very best way.
In “P.O. BOX,” a woman is dedicated to finding her missing sister, who has been out of the picture for five years. When a clue surfaces that involves the titular P.O. box and a mysterious job listing, the woman decides to investigate further. The conspiracy that she unearths is incredibly shocking — in the very best way. Although all the show’s episodes tease larger connections,episode 7 links them together in a rather unexpected but completely satisfying manner, making it not just a great ending forNightmares and Daydreamsseason 1, but a promising indicator for future installments.
1Poems & Pain
Episode 3
In “Poems & Pain,” a bestselling writer pens a bomb, leading to some down-on-her-luck times. Eager to regain her status and success, the author writes a sequel to her most well-loved book. The catch, however, is that it physically harms the author to write the book that fans want the most. However, that isn’t the only shocking moment in thisX-Files-meets-Twilight-Zonemash-up. Covered in bruises but flush in pages,the writer realizes that she has a rather intense connection to her protagonisttoo. And that’s what really prompts her to take action.
…the author gets involved in a compelling investigation to connect with this supposed real-life person.
Convinced that the character in her novel is real, the author gets involved in a compelling investigation to connect with this supposed real-life person. In addition to being a pitch-perfect standalone episode,the harrowing third installment does a lot of world-building. Put simply, “Poems & Pain” cracks the world ofJoko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamswide open, reiterating the depth of the series' narrative and lore. Without episode 3, the anthology’s overarching narrative might not have the same gut-punch.
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreamsseason 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams
Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams is an anthology series that explores psychological horror and supernatural phenomena through various standalone episodes. Directed by Joko Anwar, the show features diverse narratives that delve into the human psyche’s darker aspects, including fear, guilt, and the unknown. Each episode presents unique storylines and characters, offering a compelling exploration of terror and wonder within everyday settings.
