Don't Sleep is an American fantasy horror film released in 2017. Written and directed by Rick Bieber, the film stars Dominic Sherwood, Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Alex Rocco, and Cary Elwes. The plot revolves around a young couple, Zach (Sherwood) and Shawn (Dean), who move into a cottage/guesthouse and confront horrors from their forgotten childhoods. With a runtime of 101 minutes, the film received mixed reviews, with critics noting its reliance on horror clichés and underdeveloped characters. Despite its ambitious premise, Don't Sleep ultimately fell short of being a memorable entry in the horror genre.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Film name | Don't Sleep |
Genre | Fantasy horror |
Year | 2017 |
Dominic Sherwood's character name | Zach Bradford/Zach |
Other cast members | Charlbi Dean/Charlbi Dean Kriek, Jill Hennessy, Alex Rocco, Cary Elwes, Andrew Caldwell, Alex Carter, Drea de Matteo |
Director | Rick Bieber |
Writer | Rick Bieber |
Running time | 101 minutes |
Rating | 9% on Rotten Tomatoes |
What You'll Learn
Don't Sleep is a 2017 fantasy horror film
Don't Sleep is a 2017 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Rick Bieber. The film stars Dominic Sherwood as Zach Bradford, alongside Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Alex Rocco, and Cary Elwes.
In the film, two young lovers, Zach and Shawn, move into a cottage together. As violent episodes start to take hold of Zach, he slowly remembers a forgotten time from his childhood that may have been the result of demonic possession. The film explores the horrors of a forgotten childhood and the impact it has on their present lives.
Don't Sleep was released on September 29, 2017, in the United States. It is rated 3.4/5 on IMDb and has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving mixed reviews from critics. The film is considered underwhelming by some, with criticism aimed at its predictability and lack of memorability. However, others have praised its plot, acting, and impressive effects, finding it to be a decent horror film.
The film marks the final appearance of Alex Rocco, who passed away in 2015. Don't Sleep is a supernatural thriller that delves into the psychological and the supernatural, offering a mix of horror and thriller elements to engage its audience.
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The film stars Dominic Sherwood and Charlbi Dean
The 2017 American fantasy horror film Don't Sleep stars Dominic Sherwood and Charlbi Dean, alongside Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Alex Rocco, and Cary Elwes. Written and directed by Rick Bieber, the film centres on two young lovers who, after moving into a cottage together, confront the horrors of a forgotten childhood.
Dominic Sherwood portrays Zach Bradford, one half of the central couple. Zach is haunted by a recurring nightmare and harbours distrust towards Dr. Richard Sommers, a character he describes as follows: “I didn't really like him when I was a kid... and I like him a lot less now.”
Charlbi Dean plays Shawn Edmon, Zach Bradford's lover and the other half of the couple who move into the cottage. Shawn Edmon is Zach's support system as he struggles with his nightmares, as evidenced by their dialogue:
> Zach Bradford: [describing his recurring nightmare] He was trying to steal me.
> Shawn Edmon: Your soul.
Don't Sleep premiered on September 29, 2017, in the United States. It was Alex Rocco's final film, as he passed away in 2015. The film received a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.39/10 based on eleven reviews.
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It was written and directed by Rick Bieber
The 2017 American fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep' was written and directed by Rick Bieber. The film stars Dominic Sherwood as Zach Bradford, a young man who, after moving into a cottage with his wife Shawn (played by Charlbi Dean) starts experiencing nightmares and hallucinations relating to a forgotten childhood trauma.
Bieber's film explores the impact of suppressed trauma and the way in which it can resurface in unexpected and often terrifying ways. The narrative centres on Zach's attempts to understand and confront his past, which is shrouded in mystery even to himself. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Zach's trauma is deeply intertwined with the people around him, including his wife, neighbours, and childhood friends.
The film opens with a Nietzsche quote, setting the tone for the exploration of the darker aspects of the human psyche. Bieber uses horror movie tropes to delve into the profound theme of personal responsibility and the burden of facing one's own darkness. The character of Zach grapples with the realisation that he is capable of hurting those closest to him, and the film asks tough questions about the role of the community in acknowledging and addressing such traumas.
'Don't Sleep' received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its intellectual and thematic depth, while others found it poorly executed and confusing. However, it is clear that Bieber's intention was to create a horror film that engaged with complex psychological themes and challenged audiences to reflect on the nature of trauma and its impact on the individual and those around them.
Ultimately, 'Don't Sleep' is a film that explores the darker side of human nature and the complexities of trauma, memory, and personal responsibility.
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Zach and Shawn are plagued by nightmares and hauntings
Shawn undresses before taking a shower when a closet door mysteriously pops open. Jo sees something terrible when she is intimate with Vincent. Zach and Shawn's relationship is a good one, and Zach is successful in law school, but things take a turn for the worse when Vincent's father, Mr Marino, commits suicide. Zach sees his childhood self, a pale teenager in a hoodie.
The film ends with a twist that suggests Zach is not solely responsible for his actions, and that his problems are universal.
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The film has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
The 2017 American fantasy horror film Don't Sleep, starring Dominic Sherwood, currently has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This rating is based on eleven reviews, with an average score of 4.39/10.
The film, written and directed by Rick Bieber, features a star-studded cast, including Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, and Alex Rocco in his final film role. Despite its impressive cast, Don't Sleep has received mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences.
Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media gave the film one star out of five, while Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com awarded it two stars. One user on IMDb advised others "Don't, Sleep ['Don't' bother watching this]. And yet, ironically (or is it just coincidentally?), this may represent a cure for insomnia." This review highlights the belief that the film is boring and underwhelming.
However, some viewers have found elements to appreciate. One review on Rotten Tomatoes states, "If you go into Don't Sleep expecting to be scared, you will be disappointed. But if you are looking for a decent plot, good acting, and very impressive effects, give it a watch." This review suggests that while the film may not be successful as a horror movie, it has its strengths in terms of storytelling, performance, and special effects.
Overall, the film's low rating on Rotten Tomatoes indicates that it has not resonated well with critics and audiences, but there may still be aspects of the film that are worth considering for viewers who are not seeking traditional horror thrills.
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Frequently asked questions
Don't Sleep is an American fantasy horror film released in 2017.
Don't Sleep was written and directed by Rick Bieber.
Don't Sleep stars Dominic Sherwood, Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Alex Rocco, and Cary Elwes.
Don't Sleep follows a young couple, Zach and Shawn, who move into a guesthouse and experience terrifying events related to Zach's haunted past.
The runtime of Don't Sleep is 1 hour and 35 minutes or 95 minutes.