Miya Pearson
Don't Sleep is a 2017 American fantasy horror film 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 follows young lovers Shawn and Zach, who move into a guesthouse on an estate owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marino. As bizarre events begin to occur, Zach remembers a forgotten time in his childhood when he suffered from violent psychosis, and his memories were erased by electroconvulsive shock treatments. As the events around them become more dangerous, Zach questions his sanity and fears for Shawn's safety. Despite tackling tough questions, the film received negative reviews, with criticism aimed at its pacing, writing, and character development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy, horror, thriller |
| Director | Rick Bieber |
| Writers | Rick Bieber |
| Stars | Dominic Sherwood, Charlbi Dean, Jill Hennessy, Drea de Matteo, Cary Elwes, Alex Rocco |
| Rating | 3.4/10 (IMDB), 9% (Rotten Tomatoes), 26/100 (Metacritic) |
| Runtime | 1 hr 35 mins |
| Plot | A young couple, Zach and Shawn, move into a cottage together and experience bizarre events. Zach slowly remembers a forgotten time in his childhood when he suffered from severe and violent psychosis, and the couple is confronted with the horrors of a forgotten childhood. |
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What You'll Learn
Poor critical reception
The 2017 horror film "Don't Sleep" received poor critical reception from viewers and critics alike. The movie follows Zach Bradford and his partner Shawn Edmon, a young couple who move back to Zach's neighbourhood, where he suffered trauma from nightmares as a child.
One of the main criticisms of the film is its slow and pointless storyline. Some viewers found the movie so boring and uneventful that they gave up before it ended. The plot was described as "incredibly slow-paced and pointless", with one reviewer stating that it "lost its momentum about halfway through". Another viewer commented that the movie was "so underwhelming that it crosses over into being flat-out boring".
The acting in "Don't Sleep" has also been criticised as being subpar and unconvincing. One reviewer described the lead actress's performance as "awful", with "barely anything to feed off for the lead actor". The romantic scenes were described as "cringey", and the lack of chemistry between the leads was noted by several viewers.
The dialogue in the film has also been described as "rushed and poor", with one reviewer commenting that the writing felt "teen-like". The movie has also been criticised for its overuse of glitch-style effects and low-budget ghostly figures, which did not complement the world the movie was trying to build.
Overall, "Don't Sleep" was seen as a disappointing and forgettable film that failed to deliver on its intriguing premise. While some viewers found it entertaining, others felt that it lacked a compelling story, memorable characters, and impressive effects.
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Confusing plot
The 2017 horror-thriller Don't Sleep has been criticized for its confusing plot. The movie follows Zach Bradford and his partner Shawn Edmon, who move back to Zach's neighbourhood into a cottage on an estate owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marino. Shawn starts experiencing nightmares and soon begins to see ghosts during the daytime. The movie then takes on several different plot points, which some viewers found hard to follow.
For instance, Vincent's father commits suicide, and Shawn experiences a physical attack. There are also references to an urban legend about a Crusades-era warrior whose wife is raped during his war-time absence, and Jo recalls this when she sees something terrible while having sex with Vincent.
The movie also shifts focus to other characters, which some viewers felt was for misdirection, and sounds a lot like victim-blaming. The main character, Zach, is supposed to be a law student, but his character spends a lot of time on his appearance, and all the characters act suspiciously and say inappropriate things.
The movie has also been criticized for its pacing, with one viewer saying that the director, Bieber, takes too long to get to his point. The movie has also been called out for its poor dialogue, and one viewer said that the plot was so confusing that they couldn't remember what it was about.
The plot of Don't Sleep seems to be a jumbled-up version of horror movie tropes, and the movie has been criticized for its lack of smart writing, with generic boogeymen antagonists and unconvincing portrayals of trauma.
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Poor dialogue
The 2017 fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep' received poor reviews, with one critic stating that it "fails on a number of levels". One of the main criticisms of the film is its poor dialogue.
The dialogue in 'Don't Sleep' has been described as "baldly over-stat [ing] concerns without elaborating on them". The characters' delivery has been likened to "teen-like writing", with one review stating that the film contains "rushed tension, rushed and poor dialogue, [and a] slow start". The dialogue fails to build suspense or engage the audience, instead coming across as overly dramatic and unconvincing.
The film's writer and director, Rick Bieber, has been accused of "announcing his intentions to take on heavy subjects" without providing the necessary depth or nuance in the script. The dialogue falls flat, with characters stating their concerns or fears without exploring them in a meaningful way. This makes it difficult for the audience to connect with the characters or invest in their journeys.
The poor dialogue also contributes to the criticism that the film is "more annoying than scary". The lines delivered by the actors do not effectively build tension or create a sense of horror. Instead, the film relies on generic horror tropes and overused glitch-style effects, which detract from the world-building rather than enhancing it.
Overall, the dialogue in 'Don't Sleep' is a major contributing factor to the film's negative reception. It lacks the depth and subtlety needed to explore the heavy subjects the film attempts to tackle, resulting in a confusing and underwhelming experience for viewers.
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Underwhelming horror
"Don't Sleep" is a 2017 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Rick Bieber. The movie stars Dominic Sherwood and Charlbi Dean as young lovers Shawn and Zach, who move into a guesthouse together on an estate owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marino. As bizarre events begin to occur, Zach starts to remember a forgotten time in his childhood when he suffered from severe and violent psychosis, which was treated with electroconvulsive shock therapy. As the dangers surrounding them escalate and innocent people are killed, Zach questions his sanity and fears for Shawn's safety. Eventually, he is faced with the possibility of demonic possession.
Despite its intriguing plot, "Don't Sleep" has received largely negative reviews, with a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 26 out of 100 on Metacritic. Critics have described the movie as "underwhelming", "confusing", and "boring". One review notes that the film fails to deliver on its promising premise, with poor dialogue, a slow start, and a lack of chemistry between the leads. The special effects and makeup have also been criticized as disappointing and subpar.
The film has also been criticized for its treatment of sensitive topics, such as victim-blaming and the glorification of toxic masculinity. One review notes that the movie seems to blame the female character, Shawn, for the actions of her abusive partner, Zach. Additionally, the film has been called out for its overreliance on horror movie tropes and its failure to adequately explore its themes.
While some viewers may find the movie intellectually compelling, the general consensus is that "Don't Sleep" falls flat as a horror film. With its slow pace, confusing narrative, and poor execution, "Don't Sleep" fails to deliver the thrills and chills that fans of the genre crave.
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Victim-blaming
The 2017 American fantasy horror film 'Don't Sleep' explores various themes, including victim-blaming, mental health, and the impact of past trauma.
The film "Don't Sleep" has been criticized for its handling of victim-blaming, particularly in the way it shifts the focus away from Zach, who is experiencing psychotic episodes and facing the horrors of a forgotten childhood, onto other characters. This narrative choice has been interpreted as a form of victim-blaming, as it suggests that Zach's loved ones, including his partner Shawn, are to blame for his actions or the consequences of his mental health struggles. This notion of victim-blaming is particularly troubling given the acknowledgments in the film that Shawn's beauty and patience are seen as signs of a trouble-free life, reducing her to a trophy or an afterthought in a story that should explore the impact of Zach's actions on those around him.
Mental Health and Past Trauma
'Don't Sleep' delves into the complexities of mental health and the impact of past trauma. Zach, one of the main characters, is forced to confront his own sanity as he slowly remembers a repressed childhood trauma involving severe psychosis. The film portrays the terror and confusion that Zach experiences as his repressed memories resurface, leading him to question his sanity and fear for the safety of his partner, Shawn. The exploration of Zach's mental health and the potential for demonic possession adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
Impact of Trauma on Loved Ones
While the film primarily focuses on Zach's journey, it also touches on the impact of his trauma on those closest to him, particularly Shawn. As Zach grapples with his psychotic behavior and the possibility of demonic possession, Shawn finds herself in danger and is forced to confront the horrors of Zach's forgotten childhood alongside him. The film hints at a broader community that is complicit in creating and being moved by Zach's demons, suggesting a collective responsibility for the impact of his past trauma.
Critical Reception
'Don't Sleep' has received largely negative reviews from critics, with some describing it as ""annoying rather than scary"" and criticizing its confusing narrative and poor execution of horror tropes. The film has been praised for its interesting ending, but overall, it has been deemed disappointing and underwhelming, with a rating of 3.4/10 on IMDb and 4.39/10 on Rotten Tomatoes.
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Frequently asked questions
'Don't Sleep' is a 2017 American fantasy horror film about young lovers Shawn and Zach, who move into a guesthouse together on an estate owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marino. As bizarre events begin to occur, Zach slowly remembers a forgotten time in his childhood when he suffered from severe and violent psychosis, and his memories were erased by electroconvulsive shock treatments. As the events surrounding their lives grow more deadly, Zach is forced to question his own sanity and fears for Shawn’s safety.
The movie 'Don't Sleep' is about a community of well-wishers that help a bright young kid hide from himself. Zach has compartmentalized a dark past to the point where he can only process the pain by seeing it through horror movie tropes.
Reviews for the movie are generally negative. It has a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and a score of 26 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. Many reviews criticise the movie for being confusing, with one review stating that it "fails on a number of levels".
