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 & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Simian
Guy Sanville	...	Doctor
Kristie Dickinson	...	Eve Saxon
Lisa Sodman Elzinga	...	Pregnant Nurse (as Lisa Sodman)
Dennis North	...	Detective Mazurek
Patrick Moug	...	Detective Snyder
Zach Grenier	...	Geoffrey
Eros Biox	...	Baby (as Eros Ion Biox)
Bee Vary	...	Ed's Mother

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:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeff Daniels is barefoot for the entire film.

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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 (as Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel)

User Reviews

It's a little hard to sit through because it's supposed to be.

It's a little hard to sit through because it's supposed to be. Stilted editing, a sparse sound track, dreamy plot, prescription drug abuse, creepy and heavy-handed symbols keep the viewer in an uncomfortable place right through to the end, when wonderfully horrible scenes finally and completely rip open the fabric of what was the film's debatable reality.

Chasing Sleep adds star power and production value to the style of film making Walker introduced with his 1995 indie short film, "Pie Eater" which ended with a shagged-out diabetic fat lady making love to a pie headed man in a tuxedo (no joke).

Kafka-esque with a sick sense of humor, "Chasing Sleep" is a pretty admirable freshman feature from Walker. Jeff Daniels is excellent as an unshaven English professor losing touch with reality. Emily Bergl offers some decent acting and skin.

All in all, pleasantly disconcerting. I'd sit through more if I had the chance.

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:

Forensic Films, Glaski Productions, Le Studio Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color