Last Updated on September 26, 2024 by
Sleep is a 2024 Mystery & Thriller, Horror Movie Directed and written by Juha Lilja The film stars Juha Lilja, with a 1h 34M runtime, and was released on September 27, 2024.
If you are among the lucky individuals who have had a healthy sleep experience then the terms gamma-aminobutyric acid and glycine will not ring a bell in your mind. If not, you might start to think about them often, and this is where things get complicated. They are the two chemicals that control movement during sleep. Most of us have a moderate level of ‘hybrid sleep,’ but at one extreme there is sleep paralysis, as showcased in Rodney Ascher’s documentary titled ‘The Nightmare,’ and at the other end is sleepwalking. It is also quite disturbing, that 58% of people, who sleepwalk, are violent to themselves or to others while asleep. This may prove to be quite challenging to live with – not only for the sleepwalkers but also the people around them – which is a subject that has been depicted by Jason Yu in this debut feature, which has garnered positive acclaim across the global stage. ‘Together we can overcome anything’ reads a tin in the kitchen of an endearing couple Hyun-su (Lee Sun-kyun) and Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi). The two actors have portrayed lovers in their previous three movies and hence have a great rapport that creates a feeling that they have been in a relationship. He is an actor, not a very famous one, but waiting and working; she does not mind being dependent on him and has his clippings on the wall.
Sleep is a horror movie that is based on supernatural horror with some psychological tension. It tells the story of Hyun-su, an incompetent actor, and his wife Soo-jin who is pregnant with their first child. Everything appears quite ordinary until a downstairs neighbor complains to them that she has heard mysterious sounds emanating from their flat during the night. The movie gets even scarier when Hyun-su begins to sleepwalk and even mumbles, ‘Someone is inside’.
The movie is both a supernatural thriller and a psychological drama that makes us ask some really scary questions: What if the person who matters to you most and upon whom you rely for support and care begins to behave like a stranger? Is it just a sleep disorder, or is there more to the story? Although its sleepwalking is portrayed scientifically, several hints would make Soo-jin and the viewer suspect it was caused by something, not of this world. This turns out to be a brilliant psychological thriller as we are made to ponder whether it is a medical matter or whether there is an evil power at work.
The film makes excellent use of how Soo-jin expresses her affection and perseverance. It depicts how she struggles to rescue her husband, his child in the process, and even her own life as her husband becomes more and more deranged. As a result, Soo-jin’s mother concludes that the presence of something nasty or unknown is at work; a scene with the shaman that follows adds to the eerie aura of the story. The movie is a great example of how somebody’s close person may become frightened when he suddenly changes his behavior, which is especially awful during the night.
One of the most powerful aspects of the movie is that it’s very lonely. The major part of the action is set in their apartment and turns into a small world full of anxieties and dangers. In addition to the use of sound and lighting to convey a growing sense of claustrophobia, associations with the film’s score and set design complement this growing impression of the walls gradually closing in. The music rises at the exciting parts of the story and gets louder at scary parts, the set design is dark and shows that many things are about to go wrong.
Consequently, while “Sleep” is a story about supernatural terror, it is also a story of how relationships can be strained when their existence becomes unstable. The film also benefited much from the performances of its two lead actors whose chemistry here is excellent. Their ability to depict an authentic loving couple in distress, facing rather legitimate fear, or confusion, makes the story credible. When they fight they do it as if it is normal and when they express their affection the chemistry between them is evident. This brings an element of concern, which makes you interested in what happens to them.
In the end, ‘Sleep’ is a film that poses too many disturbing queries. Alternative, if that which we most fear lies beside us in bed? What if the very person who is supposed to reassure you becomes the cause of your fear? And what if the battle between science and the supernatural isn’t so black and white? Thus the viewer is left with quite several issues to ponder over at the end and it will make you reflect on what you never knew about how peaceful sleep is.
Sleep 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Sleep is not rated because it has not undergone the official rating process by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA).
