Don't Sleep Cast: Exploring The Unknown With Experts

The 2017 American fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep' is written and directed by Rick Bieber and stars Dominic Sherwood, Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Alex Rocco, and Cary Elwes. The film follows a young couple, Zach and Shawn, who move into a cottage together and confront the horrors of Zach's forgotten childhood. As Zach suffers from violent episodes and nightmares, he slowly remembers a time in his past that may have been the result of demonic possession. With a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received mixed reviews, with some praising the plot, acting, and effects, while others found it underwhelming and confusing.

Don't Sleep (2017) cast list

Don't Sleep is a 2017 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Rick Bieber. The film stars:

• Dominic Sherwood as Zach Bradford
• Charlbi Dean as Shawn Edmon
• Jill Hennessy as Cindy Bradford
• Alex Rocco as Mr. Marino
• Cary Elwes as Dr. Richard Sommers
• Drea de Matteo as Jo Marino

In the film, Shawn and Zach, two young lovers, move into a cottage together. When violent episodes begin to take hold of Zach, he slowly remembers a forgotten time in his childhood that may have been the result of demonic possession.

The film received a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been described as "an awkward horror pic" that is "so underwhelming that it crosses over into being flat-out boring". Despite this, some viewers have praised the film for its "good acting" and "very impressive effects".

Dominic Sherwood as Zach Bradford

Dominic Anthony Sherwood, born in Kent, South East England, portrays Zach Bradford in the 2017 American fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep'. The film, written and directed by Rick Bieber, revolves around Zach, who is haunted by nightmares and disturbing images from his forgotten childhood. Sherwood's character, Zach, is married to Shawn (played by Charlbi Dean) and has moved into a new house with his wife. Despite appearing to have a perfect life, with good grades in law school and a great relationship with his neighbours, Zach is troubled by his past.

Sherwood's performance as Zach Bradford is pivotal to the film's exploration of trauma and its impact on an individual's life. Zach's story is convoluted and complex, with a dark past that he has compartmentalised, only processing the pain through horror movie tropes. Sherwood brings to life the struggle of a character grappling with profound questions about responsibility and the burden of facing one's darkest aspects.

In the film, Zach seeks help from a therapist, Dr Richard Sommers (played by Cary Elwes), who dismisses his nightmares as mere bad dreams. However, as the story unfolds, Zach starts to encounter his childhood double and is haunted by images of torture on his laptop. Sherwood's portrayal of Zach's confusion, fear, and desperation adds depth to the character's journey as he tries to uncover the truth about his past.

Dominic Sherwood's casting as Zach Bradford is significant due to his experience in the entertainment industry. Before taking on the role, Sherwood had studied Drama and Theatre Studies in Maidstone, worked abroad in Kenya, and honed his craft in London plays before transitioning to TV and film. Sherwood's acting prowess contributes to the overall impact of 'Don't Sleep', making it a thought-provoking exploration of trauma, memory, and the darker aspects of human nature.

Cary Elwes as Dr. Richard Sommers

Cary Elwes, born Ivan Simon Cary Elwes, is an English actor who portrayed Dr. Richard Sommers in the 2017 American fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep'. The film follows two young lovers, Shawn and Zach, who move into a cottage together and confront the horrors of a forgotten childhood. As they settle into their new home, Zach begins to experience violent episodes and slowly remembers a traumatic time from his past that may have been caused by demonic possession.

Elwes was born in Westminster, London, on October 26, 1962. He is known for his versatile acting career, spanning various genres, including satire, horror, romance, and war films. Elwes made his acting debut in 1984 in Marek Kanievska's film 'Another Country', and rose to prominence with his charming lead performance in Rob Reiner's classic fairy tale, 'The Princess Bride' (1987). He has since appeared in numerous notable films, including 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' (1993), 'Saw' (2004), and 'No Strings Attached' (2011).

In 'Don't Sleep', Elwes portrays Dr. Richard Sommers, a character who likely plays a pivotal role in helping Zach confront his forgotten past and deal with the demonic possession. As a seasoned actor, Elwes brings his signature charm and versatility to the role, contributing to the film's good acting and impressive effects, as noted by Dennis Schwartz in his movie review.

In addition to his acting career, Elwes has also ventured into writing and producing. He wrote the screenplay for the comedy 'Elvis & Nixon' and has produced several projects, showcasing his diverse talents in the entertainment industry.

Drea de Matteo as Jo Marino

Drea de Matteo, born Andrea Donna de Matteo, is an American actress known for her role as Jo Marino in the 2017 fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep'. The film follows two young lovers who, after moving into a cottage together, confront the horrors of a forgotten childhood, which may have been the result of demonic possession.

De Matteo was born in Whitestone, Queens, New York City, on January 19, 1972, and grew up in a Catholic family. Her mother, Donna, is a playwright and playwriting teacher, and her father, Albert, was a furniture manufacturer. De Matteo is of Italian descent and spent her early childhood in Queens before moving with her family to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She attended the Loyola School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film production from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, intending to pursue a career in film directing. However, it was her acting classes that attracted her greatest interest, and she decided to pursue an acting career.

De Matteo made her screen debut in an independent film and had a small part in the 1999 movie 'Meet Prince Charming'. She then auditioned for a one-episode part in the HBO series 'The Sopranos' and impressed the producers so much that they expanded her role. De Matteo played Adriana La Cerva, the girlfriend of up-and-coming Soprano family soldier Christopher Moltisanti. Her performance in 'The Sopranos' earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2004, as well as a Golden Globe nomination the same year.

Following her role in 'The Sopranos', De Matteo took on a leading role in the sitcom 'Joey', a spin-off of 'Friends', from 2004 to 2006. She has also appeared in several other television shows, including 'Sons of Anarchy', 'Desperate Housewives', and 'Shades of Blue'. In addition to her television work, De Matteo has also had roles in various films, such as 'Swordfish', 'Deuces Wild', 'The Perfect You', and 'Assault on Precinct 13'.

Alex Rocco as Mr. Marino

Alex Rocco (1936-2015) played Mr. Marino in the 2017 fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep'. This was Rocco's final film before his death in 2015. Known for his distinctive gravelly voice, Rocco was often cast as a villain, and Mr. Marino seems to be no exception. In 'Don't Sleep', Mr. Marino is the father of Vincent Marino (Alex Carter), and commits suicide, which triggers the film's protagonist, Zach Bradford (Dominic Sherwood), to start seeing his childhood double.

Rocco was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1936, to Italian immigrants. He grew up a member of Boston's Winter Hill gang, and was briefly detained in relation to a murder during the Boston Irish Gang War (1961-1967). After his release, Rocco decided to relocate to Hollywood in 1962, where he began acting, training with notable teachers such as Leonard Nimoy and Jeff Corey to curb his thick Boston accent. His film and TV career began in 1965, and he quickly found himself playing gritty anti-heroes and villains.

Rocco's career took off after a brief but memorable appearance in the Oscar-winning film 'The Godfather' (1972), in which he played Las Vegas syndicate boss Moe Greene. He went on to play supporting roles in various crime films, such as 'The Outside Man' (1972), 'Slither' (1973), and 'Freebie and the Bean' (1974). He also appeared in numerous TV shows, including 'The Rookies', 'Kojak', 'Cannon', and 'Starsky and Hutch'. In 1989, Rocco won an Emmy Award for his role as a slick Hollywood agent in the comedy series 'The Famous Teddy Z'.

In addition to his live-action roles, Rocco also did a significant amount of voice-over work later in his career. He had a recurring voice role in the animated series 'The Simpsons' and provided voices for two early episodes of 'Family Guy' and the Disney/Pixar film 'A Bug's Life'.

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