Chasing Sleep (2000)

A college professor wakes up to find his wife has not returned home, then struggles to understand her disappearance.

Director:

Michael Walker

Writer:

Michael Walker

Stars:

Jeff Daniels, Molly Price, Ben Shenkman

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jeff Daniels	...	Ed Saxon
Molly Price	...	Susie
Ben Shenkman	...	Officer Stewart
Gil Bellows	...	Detective Derm
Michelle Held	...	Mrs. Mastrioni
Emily Bergl	...	Sadie
Julian McMahon	...	George
Guy Sanville	...	Doctor
Lisa Sodman Elzinga	...	Pregnant Nurse
Dennis North	...	Detective Mazurek
Patrick Moug	...	Detective Snyder
Zach Grenier	...	Geoffrey
Eros Biox	...	Baby (as Eros Ion Biox)
Tom Whalen	...	911 Operator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Betsey Amid	...	Voice of Eve

Storyline

Via Tubitv on the Roku; Jeff Daniels (Traitor) plays a man left devastated by the sudden disappearance of his wife begins to suffer from insomnia which leaves him confused and with a loose grip on reality. From the year 2000 1 hour and 44 minutes rated R

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Plot Keywords:

professor | barefoot | teacher | student | nightmare | 

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Taglines:

The nightmare begins when you open your eyes...

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence, some sexuality and drug content

Details

Country:

Canada USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 2001 (France)

Also Known As:

Insomnies

Filming Locations:

Stockbridge, Michigan, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+,Forensic Films,Glaski Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bottle of Dreamatol that Jeff Daniels takes out in the beginning of the movie (the first pills he takes in the film) has instructions that read: "For the relief of pain at its source, take as many pills as you can swallow until dreams overtake your perception of reality. Be cautious of the amount only when concerned with returning to reality. Otherwise, take the entire bottle for a complete disconnection from the pain of existence." Under the trademarked name Dreamatol it is described as a Dream Enhancer/Fever Reducer, even though the only ingredient listed is Ibuprofen.

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Crazy Credits

The text at the end of the credits: The director would like to mention that he was not going 92 miles an hour when he was pulled over in Waterlou Township and should have his fine refunded and an apology send to him.

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Soundtracks

Piano Recording No. 6 Andante Soave
Written by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel

User Reviews

Probably better if you haven't seen "Lost Highway" before

This is a pretty good thriller. Better than I expected. However, ahem... you can't help but see the director's influences... I mean, David Lynch's "Lost Highway" (the punch in the face waking the protagonist from his daze, the way he vanishes into dark hallways, and many more details...), Christopher Nolan's "Following"(not for the structure of the story but more for the direction, dialogues, etc.) and occasionally Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" (especially the bathtub creature episode).

Despite the gathering of borrowed imagery, this film still develops an obvious personal style and a precise direction. All in all, a very good first film owing also a lot to Jeff Daniels's performance. Hopefully, the next one will be less obviously influenced.