Sleep is a riveting, haunting, and thought-provoking delight. It’s one of my favorite films thus far during this year’s Toronto Film Festival and was quite a surprise.
I’m still thinking about it now, wondering what I believe truly occurred. The staying power alone makes me recommend this one to the masses.
Sleep follows the lives of Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) and Hyun-su (Lee Sun-kyun), a blissful couple awaiting the arrival of their first child.
Their serene life takes an eerie turn when Hyun-su, in the middle of the night, whispers the chilling phrase, “someone’s inside.” This sets the stage for a sequence of events, each escalating in intensity and creepiness.
Under the expert direction of Jason Yu, the film exudes an unnerving discomfort that is both immediate and relentless. The plot oscillates between Hyun-su’s perceived paranoia and the potential of a supernatural occurrence, suggesting that he might be possessed. However, as he begins to see a doctor and take medication, his condition shows signs of improvement, infusing the narrative with a gripping uncertainty.
This element of unpredictability fuels the intrigue of this psychological thriller, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting a catharsis. It slowly irks toward the finale and while the ending may not pack the sort of punch one might hope for, it’s still effective.
The fragility of new parents, distrust of spouse, especially with a new mother potentially dealing with postpartum depression and the question of one’s own sanity, are powerful thematic elements.
While there are some terrific jump scares it is the additional inertia of certainty combined with an overwhelming desire for such answers, that makes this a potent psychological cocktail.
This feature debut exudes an undeniable prowess, leaving me eagerly anticipating future projects. The cinematic framing is executed with remarkable finesse, and the performances are nothing short of mesmerizing. I challenge anyone to identify another film from this year that demonstrates the same audaciousness and daring originality that this film so boldly exhibits.
The meticulously crafted screenplay, combined with the exceptional acting performances and the masterfully set mood, elevates Sleep as one of the best horror films of the year.
Sleep had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Wonderfully Weird & Horrifying 