Sleep

A brilliantly paced and imaginative mystery horror film about the horrors of sleepwalking. Although Sleep contains a great deal of humour, it gradually builds up a very strong atmosphere of uncertainty and unease, leading to a very impressive finale that also offers more than one denouement. (10/17/2023)

This enjoyable thriller-horror debut from South Korea has an original premise, but it didn't pull me in as much as I had hoped. The story centers on a married couple (most of the film takes place in an apartment only) where the husband suffers from a rare sleep disorder, or is he possessed by an evil spirit? He tends to sleepwalk at night and soon becomes a danger to himself and those around him. The premise is interesting, but the horror elements are few (unfortunately there are no jump-scares or gore, and the pace is also quite slow). In short I can't say I had a great time, as there are not many attractive elements apart from the premise. The acting is okay, the craftsmanship is okay too. The film a bit disturbing and slightly funny at times (not that I laughed outright though). I was expecting a much more intense finale, but I found it bland. The premise makes the film worth watching, but it left me completely cold. 6/10. (12/13/2023)

A powerfully effective and imaginative horror movie about various sleep disorders including extreme somnambulism, when a person become dangerous both to themselves and those around them. The nightmares of the married couple are conveyed from the perspective of the anxious woman, who is legitimately worried that her sleepwalking husband could kill their newborn. The suspensefully constructed story is then gradually given unexpected dimensions, offering both plot twists and small islands of effective situational humour. (10/09/2023)

One of the most playful horrors I've seen in a while. Sleep cleverly uses an extreme sleep disorder to create plenty of terrifying moments, and it does so brilliantly. Despite what you might expect, the film isn’t tonally scattered – it includes a few lighter moments, but they fit seamlessly into the narrative without undermining the nerve-wracking scenes. I especially enjoyed the gradual character development which culminates in an intense finale. BTW: I wouldn’t be surprised if an American remake pops up in a few years. The premise is definitely appealing for some lazy Hollywood producers. (10/11/2023)