Sleep Tight (2011)

You wake day after day to the comfort and security of your home. But how safe is it really?

Director:

Jaume Balagueró

Writer:

Alberto Marini (screenplay)

Stars:

Luis Tosar, Marta Etura, Alberto San Juan

9 wins & 22 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luis Tosar	...	César
Marta Etura	...	Clara
Alberto San Juan	...	Marcos
Petra Martínez	...	Sra. Verónica
Iris Almeida	...	Úrsula (as Iris Almeida Molina)
Carlos Lasarte	...	Vecino 4ºB
Amparo Fernández	...	Mujer de la limpieza
Roger Morilla	...	Joven de la limpieza
Pep Tosar	...	Padre de Úrsula
Margarita Roset	...	Madre de César
Ruben Ametllé	...	Trabajador Oficina 1
Manel Dueso	...	Comisario (as Manuel Dueso)
Tony Corvillo	...	Policía 1
Ricard Sadurní	...	Policía 2
Xavier Pujolràs	...	Policía 3

Storyline

Apartment concierge Cesar (Luis Tosar) is a miserable person who believes he was born without the ability to be happy. As a result, he decides his mission is to make life hell for everyone around him. A majority of the tenants are easy to agitate, but Clara (Marta Etura) proves to be harder than the most. So Cesar goes to creepy extremes to make this young woman mentally break down. Things get even more complicated in this twisted relationship when her boyfriend, Marcos (Alberto San Juan), shows up.

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Plot Keywords:

mother son relationship | concierge | building | woman | dog | 

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Taglines:

Someone is Watching Over YOU.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

14 October 2011 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Sleep Tight

Filming Locations:

Parc audiovisual de Catalunya, Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,195,685

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Castelao Producciones, Coser y Cantar

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 92 min (DVD film)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Mientras Duermes" is the name of the television program for which the journalist "Ángela" works, on the film "REC" by director Jaume Balagueró.

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Goofs

Cesar uses Chloroform on Clara using a cloth, several times. She is rendered unconscious in seconds, yet when Cesar spills it straight on his face he is able to stagger around the apartment and even make it to the bathtub.

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Quotes

César: Happy... That's exactly my problem. That I can't be happy. I never have been. Not even when good things happen to me. You can't imagine what it means to wake up every day with no motivation. The effort it takes me to find a reason, just one, not to let it all go to Hell. And believe me, I give it my best shot. My very best. Every day of my life...

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Connections

Featured in Mientras duermes: Making of (2012)

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Soundtracks

I Got To Have Your Love
Written by Dennis Coffey, Lawrence Perry and James Epps
Performed by The Fantastic Four

User Reviews

Expertly crafted and genuinely unsettling

Firstly, I feel it is important to state that though the marketing says everywhere 'from the director of Rec', and I understand why, this is nothing like Rec. I personally thought that Rec was an excellent film, and despite being an addition to an over exhausted genre, at the time it brought something new to it. Sleep Tight is however, though a 'horror' by genre, much more subtle and psychological. For me, this it to its credit and what is produced is a master class in psychological horror. It is very hard to describe the plot to Sleep Tight without giving too much away about the developments in the plot, as it are these constant developments that are central to the psychological and emotional impact of the narrative. I also feel it is important to say that from what I described in the plot that it is not a film that is brutal or horrific just for the sake of it, or is torture porn. Sleep Tight is a far more intelligent film that in fact has very little blood or gore, and the horror lies simply in the atmosphere, psychology and emotional impact of described plot developments.

I personally found that one of the shocking aspects of this film was the personal revelations that our revealed about our own sub conscience. César commits some quite despicable acts that any moral human being would never consider doing; however we do feel sympathy and understanding towards the protagonist. We almost feel a part of his actions due to how the story is told from his point of view and when there is a risk of him getting caught I genuinely felt nervous, despite the fact he should obviously be in prison for what he is doing. I am of course only speaking for myself here, and the viewing experience of this film and emotional reaction to what goes on within the narrative may differ between viewers. I was however relieved to read that other reviewers have said similar things. Our emotional sympathy for the protagonist is most definitely partly down to Luis Tosar's magnetic performance as César. He strikes up feelings of fear and disgust, yet also evokes sympathy, in a similar way to his stunning performance in the excellent Cell 211 (Daniel Monzón, 2009).

Sleep Tight is a film consisting of some deeply unforgettable moments that stay with us for a while. The feelings we often get from these moments may not be good ones, but it is due to the expertly crafted psychological horror with images that are often only described that lies in what makes Sleep Tight such a deeply effecting experience. Many horror films tend to have far-fetched concepts which take away some of the effectiveness, however what happens within the narrative of Sleep Tight is perfectly believable and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that this can happen to anyone, possibly without us even knowing. The shocks never get boring, leaving to an extremely compelling experience, leading all the way up to unforgettable ending that will haunt for days. Also adding to the horror is the extremely effective juxtaposition of there always being bright sunshine outside and having an up-tempo swing soundtrack, despite what is happening within the narrative leaving an extremely disconcerting feeling even during the day when everyone is supposed to be safe.

One criticism is that some of the few things that César does without getting noticed are perhaps a little unbelievable. However, maybe I thought this because I know he is there. If you are not aware of his presence then maybe you indeed would be less likely to notice. Proving that less can indeed be more; Sleep Tight is vastly more effective and genuinely haunting than any big budget horror film that Hollywood tends to produce these days. With some unforgettable moments, Sleep Tight is genuinely guaranteed to haunt your sub conscience for days.