Sleep Tight is Available on Blu-ray and DVD from Dark Sky Films on January 8, 2013
Since “Sleep Tight” is a Spanish language movie I will write the following review in English subtitles. It only seems fitting.
When it comes to the meat of story, “Sleep Tight” (originally titled “Mientras Duermes”) has a lot in common with the paranoia-inducing junk you frequently find in the Lifetime Movie of the Week. Here we have the attractive Clara (Marta Etura) who lives alone in an expansive apartment building located in beautiful Barcelona (I’ve never been but I’ve read). She is currently estranged from her handsome boyfriend. While she still keeps a picture of him at her bedside the two haven’t spoken to each other for weeks. She’s a happy-go-happy girl, though, and despite the relationship drama, she lights up any room she walks into.
But there is something sinister that goes on in Clara’s apartment while she sleeps at night. The building’s doorman, Cesar (Luis Tosar), creeps into her quite room and doses her with chloroform to ensure his “work” will not be disturbed. Not very smooth but just a glance at Cesar and you can guess that he has issue speaking with women. Or with anyone for that matter. As she sleeps Cesar violates our poor Clara, (but nothing too graphic, if that’s a worry) as Cesar’s sole purpose in life is to make others unhappy. Sleep-rape is a definite way to bum someone out no doubt.
What separates “Sleep Tight” from the Lifetime formula is that the entire story unfolds from the perspective of the villain. We sneak and scam along with Cesar and, miraculously, you might even find yourself holding your breath as Cesar tries to flee from the apartment while Clara entertains a guest in the shower. Why? Because Cesar is terrific baddie, making the film worth a look.
Director Jaume Balagueró is best known for his frantic horror films “[Rec]” and “[Rec] 2”. The first film in the series was remade here in the States as “Quarantine” and remains one of the best examples of the Found Footage genre. Where that film was a Post Modern gem, “Sleep Tight” is very traditional in its pacing and tension. This is a complete turnaround from screaming-mad zombies chasing a camera through the halls of a condemned building. “Sleep Tight” takes it’s time, almost bogging down in the front of the film, but catches fire about an hour in and never lets up.
Special Features are slim:
A featurette entitled “Sleep Tight: Cesar’s World” and
The Trailer.