A Synopsis Of Don't Sleep: A Thriller Unveiled

The 2017 horror-fantasy film 'Don't Sleep' explores the horrors of a forgotten childhood. The story centres around young lovers Shawn and Zach, who move into a cottage together. As they settle into their new home, Zach begins to experience violent episodes, triggering fragmented memories of a dark and traumatic past. The line between reality and psychosis blurs as Zach grapples with the possibility of demonic possession, forcing him to question his sanity and putting Shawn's safety at risk. With increasing danger and innocent lives at stake, 'Don't Sleep' delves into the profound and formative trauma of facing one's darkest aspects.

Young lovers move into a cottage

Shawn and Zach, two young lovers, move into a cottage together. The cottage is a guest house on an estate owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marino. Their new home is idyllic, and Zach's life seems perfect. He earns good grades in law school, has friendly neighbours, and is happily married. However, this peaceful existence is short-lived.

Soon after their move, Zach begins to experience violent episodes. He starts to recall repressed memories from his childhood, including a possible demonic possession. As these memories resurface, bizarre and dangerous events start to occur around the couple. Zach's sanity is called into question, and he fears for Shawn's safety. The threat of psychotic behaviour looms, and innocent people fall victim to the escalating terror.

Zach remembers a time when he suffered from severe and violent psychosis as a child. These memories had been erased through a series of electroconvulsive shock treatments administered by his psychiatrist. As he grapples with his past, Zach is haunted by images of a man being tortured on his laptop and visions of his childhood double, cloaked in a hoodie. The lines between reality and his nightmares blur as he struggles to distinguish his dreams from actual events.

As the film progresses, the horrors of Zach's forgotten childhood come to light, impacting not only him but also those around him. The film explores the impact of trauma and the difficulty of taking responsibility for one's actions when even loved ones are reluctant to confront the darkness within. "Don't Sleep" delves into the complexities of human nature, posing thought-provoking questions about the nature of good and evil and the potential monsters that lurk within us all.

Bizarre events and violent episodes

Zach, now an adult, starts to have violent episodes. He is haunted by images of a man being tortured on his laptop and his childhood double, a pale teenager in a hoodie. As these visions intensify, Zach is forced to confront the possibility that he suffered from a severe and violent psychosis as a child. He seeks answers from his therapist, Dr. Summers, who dismisses his experiences as mere nightmares. However, as the situation escalates, Zach's past becomes more sinister and confusing, with memories of receiving electroconvulsive shock treatments from his psychiatrist to erase his childhood trauma.

The bizarre events are not limited to Zach's experiences. Shawn, his wife, and Jo, their neighbour, also encounter strange phenomena. Shawn is confronted with a mysteriously opening closet door, adding to the eerie atmosphere. Meanwhile, Jo, while being intimate with her husband Vincent, sees something terrifying, suggesting that the supernatural occurrences may be linked to a dark presence in their lives.

As the story unfolds, the possibility of demonic possession is raised, adding a supernatural layer to the bizarre and violent episodes. The line between reality and the supernatural blurs as Zach grapples with distinguishing nightmares from actual events. The violent episodes and bizarre occurrences continue to escalate, putting the couple in deadly danger and forcing Zach to question his sanity and fear for Shawn's safety.

Forgotten childhood memories

Shawn and Zach are two young lovers who move into a cottage together. Unbeknownst to them, the cottage holds a dark and sinister history, one that Zach has a connection with. As they settle into their new home, strange and violent episodes start to occur, centred around Zach. He begins to recall a forgotten time in his childhood, a time of severe and violent psychosis, which was treated with electroconvulsive shock therapy.

Zach's past is shrouded in darkness and trauma. As a child, he suffered from terrifying dreams, filled with ominous figures and disturbing imagery. These dreams were so powerful that they caused him to question his sanity. The dreams were so vivid that he sought the help of a therapist, Dr Summers, who dismissed them as mere nightmares. However, the truth was far more sinister and complex.

As an adult, Zach's life seems perfect—a loving marriage, good grades in law school, and a great relationship with his neighbours. Yet, as bizarre occurrences begin to unfold around him, Zach's forgotten memories start to resurface. He sees his childhood self, a pale, hooded figure, and is haunted by images of torture. The line between reality and his nightmares blurs as he struggles to differentiate between his dreams and waking life.

The horrors that Zach experienced as a child are now threatening his present, endangering not only himself but also his wife, Shawn. As the truth unfolds, Zach discovers that his forgotten childhood memories may be linked to something far more sinister and supernatural than anyone could have imagined. The peaceful cottage holds a dark secret, one that will force Zach to confront his past and fight for his sanity and survival.

Psychotic behaviour and demonic possession

Initially, Zach's experiences are dismissed as bad dreams or nightmares. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that Zach's past may hold a darker secret. As a child, Zach suffered from what appeared to be severe and violent psychosis, for which he underwent a series of electroconvulsive shock treatments administered by his psychiatrist. The treatment resulted in his memories of this period being erased.

As the film progresses, the distinction between psychotic behaviour and demonic possession becomes blurred. Zach's violent episodes escalate, and he finds himself questioning his sanity and fearing for the safety of those around him. The line between what is real and what is imagined becomes increasingly unclear, not just for Zach but also for the other characters in the film. It is implied that Zach's childhood experiences may have been the result of demonic possession, as suggested by references to an urban legend involving a Crusades-era warrior who becomes a demon after his wife is raped during his absence.

The film explores the impact of trauma and the potential consequences of suppressing dark aspects of one's personality. It raises questions about personal responsibility and the role of the community in acknowledging and addressing psychotic behaviour and potential demonic influence. Ultimately, "Don't Sleep" highlights the complexity of distinguishing between mental illness and supernatural possession, challenging viewers to consider the potential horrors that lie within the human psyche and beyond.

Intense and deadly horrors

The horror film Don't Sleep (2017) is an ambitious yet ultimately flawed exploration of profound formative trauma. The story centres around Zach, a young man who, along with his wife Shawn, moves into a new house. As the film progresses, Zach becomes haunted by images from his forgotten childhood, including violent psychotic episodes that may have been the result of demonic possession.

The horrors that Zach experiences are intense and deadly. As the terrors surrounding his life grow to deadly proportions, innocent people are slaughtered, and Zach is forced to question his own sanity and fears for Shawn's safety. The threat of psychotic behaviour turns into the possibility of demonic possession, confronting Zach with a horrific reality he never could have imagined.

The film opens with a dream sequence in which a young Zach is taunted by a bald crone and assaulted by a sickly-looking evil twin. These images set the tone for the rest of the film, as Zach continues to be haunted by his past. The horrors that Zach experiences are not limited to his dreams but also manifest in his waking life. He sees his childhood double, a pale teenager cloaked in a hoodie, and is haunted by images of a man being tortured on his laptop.

As the film progresses, the horrors intensify, and the body count rises. Zach's life becomes increasingly dangerous as he tries to make sense of his forgotten past. The possibility of demonic possession adds a supernatural element to the film, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural. The intense and deadly horrors that Zach experiences serve as a stark reminder of the power of trauma and the impact it can have on an individual's life.

Don't Sleep falls short of becoming a great horror film due to its convoluted plot and lack of emotional depth. However, the intense and deadly horrors depicted in the film provide a glimpse into the dark and twisted world of Zach's traumatised mind, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspense that lingers even after the film's disappointing conclusion.

Frequently asked questions