Don't Sleep is a 2017 horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Rick Bieber. The film follows young lovers Shawn (Charlbi Dean Kriek) and Zach (Dominic Sherwood) as they move into a new home and confront the horrors of Zach's forgotten childhood. As Zach begins to experience nightmares and psychotic episodes, he slowly remembers a time in his past that may have been the result of demonic possession. Don't Sleep explores the trauma of confronting one's darkest aspects and the impact of this on one's perception of self and others. The film received mixed reviews, with some praising its exploration of heavy subjects and others criticising its pacing, acting, and character development.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Title | Don't Sleep |
Year | 2017 |
Genre | Horror |
Director | Rick Bieber |
Writer | Rick Bieber |
Producer | Rick Bieber |
Runtime | 101 minutes |
Rating | NR |
Cast | Dominic Sherwood, Drea de Matteo, Jill Hennessy, Alex Carter, Alex Rocco, Andrew Caldwell, Cary Elwes, Charlbi Dean Kriek |
What You'll Learn
Plot
"Don't Sleep" is a 2017 paranormal horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Rick Bieber. The film follows young lovers Shawn (played by Charlbi Dean Kriek) and Zach (Dominic Sherwood), who move into a cottage together. Shawn is an art teacher, while Zach is a law student. They find the perfect home to rent, with friendly neighbours and landlords, Mr. and Mrs. Marino (Alex Carter and Drea de Matteo).
However, their idyllic life is soon disrupted as Zach begins to experience violent episodes and nightmares of a hellish past. These memories, once repressed, cause Zach to question his sanity and struggle with psychosis. As the film progresses, the threats become increasingly deadly, and Zach is forced to confront the possibility of demonic possession. He realises that the problem is not merely psychological but something far more sinister.
The film explores the trauma of confronting a forgotten childhood and the profound impact it can have on one's present life. As Zach grapples with his past, the line between reality and nightmare blurs, and he finds himself in a horrific situation he could never have imagined. The film also touches on the theme of taking responsibility for one's actions, even when one's loved ones find them too dark to face.
"Don't Sleep" received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the ambitious themes and tough questions posed by the film, others found it disappointing, with a convoluted plot and underwhelming scares. Despite its interesting premise, "Don't Sleep" fell short of becoming a great horror film, according to some reviewers.
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Characters
The 2017 horror film "Don't Sleep" features a host of characters, each bringing their own complexities to the story. Here's an overview:
Zach
Zach (Dominic Sherwood) is one of the main protagonists of the story. He is a law student with a seemingly bright future. However, he starts experiencing nightmares and hallucinations related to his hellish past, which was once erased from his memory through electroshock therapy. As the story unfolds, Zach struggles with psychosis and the possibility of demonic possession, questioning his own sanity.
Shawn
Shawn (Charlbi Dean Kriek), Zach's girlfriend and later wife, is a beautiful and supportive partner. She moves into a new house with Zach, unaware of the horrors that await them. While Shawn is initially sceptical of Zach's claims, she eventually becomes concerned as she witnesses strange occurrences and Zach's behaviour becomes more erratic and aggressive.
Dr. Richard Sommers/Dr. Summers
Dr. Sommers (Cary Elwes), Zach's psychotherapist, appears at the beginning of the film, diagnosing Zach's nightmares as mere bad dreams. He reassures Zach that there is no cause for worry. The character is later referred to as Dr. Summers in the film.
Timmy Mickelsen
Timmy (Andrew Caldwell) is Zach's childhood friend. He is a secondary character who reinforces the idea that Zach has a seemingly perfect life. Timmy's presence in the film also adds a touch of humour, as he jokes about Zach's wife, Shawn.
Mr. and Mrs. Marino
Mr. and Mrs. Marino are the friendly couple who rent their home to Zach and Shawn. Mr. Marino (Alex Rocco), an elderly man, adds a layer of complexity to the story with his mysterious past and possible connection to the supernatural events. Mrs. Marino, or Jo Marino (Drea de Matteo), plays a crucial role in uncovering the truth behind the strange occurrences in their home.
Other Characters
The film also includes other notable characters, such as Zach's mother, Cindy Bradford (Jill Hennessy), and an art teacher girlfriend of Zach, Sandy Sommers (Marem Hassler). Additionally, there are appearances by actors like Alex Carter, Kristin Cumming, and Robin Ignico, who play their respective roles in contributing to the overall narrative of the film.
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Critical reception
"Don't Sleep" received mixed to negative reviews from critics. While the film's ambitious themes, decent plot, good acting, impressive effects, and unpredictable ending were praised, it was also criticised for its pacing, uninspired acting, convoluted plot, and lacklustre special effects.
Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com called the film "intellectually [...] more compelling than many of the indie horror films" he had seen, but ultimately "not smart enough to deserve" a recommendation. Abrams criticised writer/director Rick Bieber for "never stop [ping] announcing his intentions to take on heavy subjects" without ever exploring them in a meaningful way. He also noted that the film's "tough questions" and exploration of "the nightmare of living with an unreflective white knight" were undermined by its "hokey twist ending".
Other critics echoed Abrams' sentiments, with Noel Murray of the Los Angeles Times writing that Bieber's "time-tested shock tactics" failed to add up to a satisfying whole, and Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com calling the film "a disconnected compendium of [...] familiar jolt [s]". G.J. Sokolsky of Punch Drunk Critics was even more scathing, calling the film "a jumbled mess" with "no redeemable qualities".
However, some reviewers took a more positive view of the film. One user on moviesandmania.com praised the film's "genuinely unpredictable endgame" and "decent structural work", while another reviewer on the same site noted that, while the film was "awkward", it had "a good plot" and was "more [of a] thriller than a horror".
Overall, "Don't Sleep" seems to have left critics underwhelmed, with many feeling that its interesting themes and premise were let down by lacklustre execution.
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Themes
"Don't Sleep" is a 2017 horror film that explores several themes related to trauma, mental health, and demonic possession.
One of the central themes of the film is the impact of trauma and how it can shape an individual's present life. The character of Zach is haunted by nightmares and memories of a hellish past, which causes him to question his sanity and struggle with psychosis. The film seems to suggest that trauma can have long-lasting effects and that suppressing or ignoring it can lead to psychological issues.
Related to this is the theme of mental health and the difficulty of confronting one's darkest aspects. Zach's experiences highlight the challenges of dealing with mental illness and the potential consequences of failing to address it effectively. The film also touches on the idea of responsibility and how individuals and their support systems can either help or hinder their ability to cope with trauma and its aftermath.
Another theme that emerges is the presence of demonic forces and their influence on human behavior. As Zach's psychosis progresses, the possibility of demonic possession is raised, blurring the lines between mental illness and supernatural influence. This adds a layer of complexity to the narrative, as it becomes unclear whether Zach's actions are solely his own or if he is being influenced by external evil forces.
The film also explores the theme of relationships and how they can be affected by trauma and mental health issues. Zach's relationship with his wife, Shawn, and their neighbors, the Marinos, becomes strained as his behavior becomes more erratic and aggressive. The film seems to suggest that trauma can have a ripple effect on those around the individual, impacting their ability to connect and trust.
Finally, "Don't Sleep" seems to critique the way mental health issues are often minimized or misunderstood. Zach's experiences with therapy are portrayed as ineffective, and the film suggests that sometimes, the things we try to forget or ignore can have the most power over us.
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Production
Don't Sleep is a 2017 paranormal horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Rick Bieber, who is known for producing Flatliners (1990). The film stars Dominic Sherwood, Drea de Matteo, and Jill Hennessy.
The film follows young lovers Shawn (Charlbi Dean Kriek) and Zach (Sherwood) who find the perfect home to rent, with friendly couple Mr. and Mrs. Marino as their landlords. However, Zach begins to experience nightmares of his hellish past, which was once erased by electroshock therapy. As he struggles with his psychosis, strange and deadly things start happening at the house, and Zach is forced to confront the possibility of demonic possession.
The film features an impressive cast, with Sherwood delivering a dedicated performance in the lead role. Kriek, who brings depth to her character, is also noted for her acting and three disrobing scenes. The late Alex Rocco, in his final screen performance, is praised for bringing pathos and menace to his role as the elderly Poppy. Other cast members include de Matteo, Hennessy, and Cary Elwes.
Don't Sleep received mixed reviews, with some critics finding it underwhelming and others commending its plot, acting, and impressive effects. While the film touches on heavy subjects and explores the impact of trauma, it falls short of delivering a deeper character study. The pacing is criticized as slack, and the acting as uninspired. However, Bieber is credited for investing in mood and hitting some effectively grim scenes.
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Frequently asked questions
Don't Sleep is a 2017 horror film about two young lovers, Shawn and Zach, who move into a cottage together. As Zach starts to experience violent episodes, he slowly remembers a forgotten time in his childhood that may have been the result of demonic possession.
Don't Sleep was written, directed, and produced by Rick Bieber.
On IMDb, Don't Sleep has a rating of 3.4/10. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 0.5/5 stars and 4/5 stars from two different reviewers.