Don't Go to Sleep (1982)

Masterful Movie

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

This one isn't too bad. About the first half of the film felt more like a film that is directed a little more for younger audiences than the last half of the film where it seems a bit more geared for adult audiences. It starts out kinda creepy but cutesy and ends up on the frightful side.My question is: If the older daughter can come back as a ghost for revenge then why not the other dead family members? They had very good reasons to come back for revenge too on _______ (I can't give it away can I?!) I'll confess that parts of the beginning of the film had me scrolling through it (fast-forwarding at times) because it was the "family stuff" going on the screen that was a bit boring to watch for me. Maybe it's just my current mood that had me bored with those scenes. BUT I did watch the last half of the film more intently because that's when it became more interesting to me.I for one can sleep easily after this film - but it might give others a terrible scare with that ending.6.5/10

This isn't exactly a movie that I would deem a forgotten classic, but it's certainly a hidden gem and I can get why it's fondly remembered by pretty much anyone who caught it during its original run on TV. I found it almost right from the start to be a very solid and worthwhile watch that rises above its considerable limitations thanks to a good cast and a very compelling and for me, ultimately satisfying mystery horror story that pays off. Much like another exceptional vintage TV horror movie, "Dark Night of the Scarecrow", it's a terrific example of less being a lot more. It's very subtle and light in the use of its horrors, and to me in this instance it makes the film come off as more engaging and enjoyable because of it. It was good to see a nice old-fashioned scary movie stand on its own merit without relying on gore, nudity, or even a single solitary gosh-darned naughty word! Part of the reason I like it is because to look at it really isn't much of anything at all, in fact it looks more like a 70s picture than an 80s one. At the beginning the story is very plain and average, but before you know it shocking things begin to happen and the tone becomes stranger and stranger, and it gradually builds up to something that I found to be quite profoundly chilling. The homely filming locations help set an eerie summer atmosphere and hazy air of mystery that works very well to the film's advantage. You know, a viewpoint aided by the fact that it has a very young and neurotic shouty Oliver Robbins in it, is that it could be seen as a kind of anti-Poltergeist movie, only in this one the family loses big time! To me that's what really makes it stand out from a lot of other horror movies of the time, that in an era of family-centred horrors where, generally no matter what happens, the sacred family unit will at least prevail and more or less make it out okay, this unknown was the one that had the balls to actually kill off that unit, and with a child nonetheless! It's all done in a very modest way with the violence being implied rather than graphic, but it was still shocking and very daring to me, I was taken aback by how ruthless a movie it was with its characters. In that regard it is a lot more brutal than most other horror flicks that I've seen! I mean jeez, they kill old funny gal grandma, bratty little brother, amiable alcoholic father, and one poor girl is condemned to a psych ward for life for crimes that may not have even truly been her own fault! The body count is low, but they are characters that are given just enough development that you care a little, and I like how they take the time to touch upon the grief , like in a scene where Valerie Harper and Dennis Weaver have a big dramatic confrontation over their son's death. Both actors get genuinely worked up and into it and it's a very heartbreaking scene. Big props to Robin Ignico as "Mary", she really steals the whole show as she gradually transforms from a seemingly regular little girl with a dark secret to a small adult as she is corrupted by the merciless ghost of her sister "Jennifer", who preys upon Mary's guilt and unconfronted grief at letting her die to manipulate her into doing away with most of her own family! I love the brilliant climactic scene that sees Mary looking like hell in a straight-jacket in a padded room being interrogated by a doctor, where it finally reveals what really happened on the night of Jennifer's fiery death, and it's a doozie! The revolving camera and overhead shots are stylish and disorienting. They reveal a lot of vital information in those few minutes that perhaps would have better been spread out over the whole film, not that most people wouldn't have figured out the twist already.. The little epilogue is so nightmarish as Jennifer finally has her mommy right where she wants her and you see the surreal and memorable image of her silhouette rise from the bottom of the bed and then emerge into the light with a hideous frozen grin on her face... The first time I watched? Could freaking not get that leering face out of my head for the rest of the night, it was like it was superimposed onto my retinas! It was an awesome and over-the-top way to end the film on a high note and it gave me a great chill, loved it! Tiny nitpick, as much as I like how there turned out to really be a Jennifer, just think how much more disturbing a film it would be if Mary had been schizophrenic and had a split-personality the whole time, and the approach to the horror would have been revealed as psychological rather than supernatural. It's far from a perfect film, it drags and lacks in parts and is a slow-burn for sure..but as far as sheer creep-factor goes, "Don't Go to Sleep" delivers very handsomely. And one thing that it certainly never made me wanna do was go to sleep!!

During the early 80s, I stumbled on this movie purely by accident. (I'm glad I did) I don't usually find many movies that "scare" me, but there are exceptions "In Possession", "The Grudge" (Japanese version), "Ghostwatch" and finally "Don't go to sleep".The story centres on a family who a year before has a car accident as the father has had one too many drinks and their eldest daughter gets killed due to a prank done on her by her younger siblings. The family move in with their grandmother so they can look after her. (Played by Ruth Gordon)She then later comes back as a ghost and haunts the younger sister who after a while becomes friends when Jennifer the older sister reveals herself to her, but this friendship becomes sinister when the sisters (mostly Jennifer who is out for revenge) decides to kill off other members of their family. The grandmother gets killed when the brother puts his pet Lizard under her sheets, scaring her to death. The second member is the brother (played by Oliver Robins from Poltergeist), he gets killed when he is trying to retrieve a Frisbee which gets stuck on the roof of the house, while he is climbing on the roof gets knocked off when an invisible force opens the window. The third member who gets killed is the father, (played by Dennis Weaver) while he is taking a bath and a radio falls into it.Later on, because the younger sister is labelled mentally unstable, she is sent to a lunatic asylum and Jennifer leaves her behind. Later on while her mother is sleeping, (played by Valerie Harper) Jennifer appears in front with a very evil grin on her face. When her mother screams, the movie ends.Although this was a very low budget TV movie, the storyline is the main theme which makes this film creepy and very scary. Don't underestimate it, although very similar to "The Grudge". "The Grudge" concentrated more on special effects in order to make it scary. Don't go to sleep concentrated more on the story. This is a brilliant ghost story and I recommend you see it.I must congratulate the entire cast and the director and I wish ABC would release it because it is very rare movie to find and if you do find a copy, you're extremely lucky.

****Contains Spoiler**** I remember watching this movie when I was about 7 with my Cricket Doll (don't laugh you probably had one too) and it freaked me out!! I loved it!! For some reason I could not find it anywhere especially not in a video store! All I could remember was the scene where Jennifer's shoe laces were tied together in the car and the car blowing up as well as the creepy ending. I am 26 years old now and this movie has stuck in the back of my head ever since! The scariest moment to me was at the end when Jennifer raises up at the foot of the bed and says "Hi Mommy!" Oooooohhhh it gave me chills!!! I bought the only one that I could find of this movie on Ebay (March 2008)on DVD!!!! This is extremely rare (those of you that are searching for this will agree with me.) I watched it for the first time in about 10 years and it scared me again in a retro-cheesy kind of way. It may be old but it took me a little while before I could go to sleep!!! Good luck in finding this movie it is soooooo worth getting and when you get a hold of it never let it go!!!-Shana