What I liked: 80's music and vibe. The disturbing visions that they encounter are very reminiscent of Stranger Things from Netflix.
What I didn't like: Predictability. A lot of yelling and chaotic stuff that didn't really help the story. They touched on many different paths that the story could have taken but didn't really fully commit to any. The ending was a bit ambiguous.
Overall: Wait for it to come out on Redbox and spend a few dollars. Anything more than that and your throwing your money away.
18 Reviews
Well-produced but draggy
adeleysim3 February 2019
Tries to be The Breakfast Club horror, it fails
namstonk10 October 2018
Ok so the acting is pretty good, but as said in the title it's a film that wants to be a horror (which it fails at) and be like the 80's film The Breakfast Club. The reason why it fails, forgetting the horror and yes they are clearly depicting grad students, but despite the good acting these people are in their 30's, late 30's in some cases. We want to like them but they should be acting like adults and scientists physically, however they act like teens and make no coherent sense in numerous scenes. Putting on glasses like Velma from Scooby-Doo does not make things younger nor make us think they are therefore intelligent.
In the end you are left feeling I know what is MEANT to be going on but I can't actually see this occuring and quite frankly if it did it's a little too late anyway. If you don't like or know 80's music it's a mark of 3.
Good effort
fame-0656410 May 2020
This was close to a 5 but, had to knock it to 4 because of some of the over the top visuals and the occasional poor acting and writing. Overall though, the idea was unique, solid and thought out. I absolutely loved the 80's vibe from this movie and wonder if that played a bigger role in why I enjoyed it as I did. I asked myself, would I have liked this without the 80's feel? The answer is, probably not. That being said, the vibe lends itself well to this particular theme. It felt like a much more feasible experiment to be done in 80's, so bravo to that! The overall look of the movie was great, well produced and solid cinematography. I look forward to seeing what Guzman does next!
It put me to sleep
windsorenquirer8 October 2018
Do not sleep else your dreams will eat you !
saptesh78610 June 2019
A group of some students did an experiment that if a man is not sleeping till 200 hours then he will get extra power and abilities to overcome his weakness. But results are going wrong and a fearful situation will come out. If you do not sleep then where do go your dreams? They need your sleep to survive. And lack of sleep they will consume you. What is the end of such experienment? The answer is to be seeing this title. A good and new type of story plot, but some bad actors and actresses make loose our interest. I do not understand why some students wearing round glasses? (to look like a scholar ?). Where are their lectures, teachers and superiors? Are they not aware about this? No answers. Only see movie for entertainment. No acting is mentionable here. You can see just for a new story plot with average presentation.
boring trash
gilgongo198031 May 2020
A Let Down
gab-675994 July 2021
I saw from the ppl who brought you Final Destination and I knew I had to see this. Wow, was I ever wrong in thinking this would be as good. Story was very hard to follow along with, made zero sense at all. Then the actors were nothing special, which made it mush worse. I do not recommend and I personally will not be watching this one again.
Sleep monsters prove to be more dull than scary
Woodyanders20 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
1986. A group of college students participate in an experiment in order to prove that one ceases to dream after not sleeping for 200 hours. Naturally, said experiment begets nightmarish side effects.
While director Phillip Guzman offers a tasty evocation of the 1980's period setting and delivers a few fairly creepy moments, he alas lets the pretty interesting story unfold at a sometimes painfully sluggish pace and crucially fails to generate any real essential tension or an equally necessary feeling of urgency. Moreover, there's way too much talk and precious little action, plus the CGI demons definitely leave something to be desired.
Fortunately, the capable cast do their best to rise above the general mediocrity: Keli Price as the eager Joe, Brea Grant as the nerdy Frannie, Stephen Ellis as excitable worrywart Dale, Christine Dwyer as brash punk Holly, Yasmine Aker as unscrupulous businesslike professor Dr. Whatley, and Lukas Gage as the doomed Carter. A seriously blah movie.
While director Phillip Guzman offers a tasty evocation of the 1980's period setting and delivers a few fairly creepy moments, he alas lets the pretty interesting story unfold at a sometimes painfully sluggish pace and crucially fails to generate any real essential tension or an equally necessary feeling of urgency. Moreover, there's way too much talk and precious little action, plus the CGI demons definitely leave something to be desired.
Fortunately, the capable cast do their best to rise above the general mediocrity: Keli Price as the eager Joe, Brea Grant as the nerdy Frannie, Stephen Ellis as excitable worrywart Dale, Christine Dwyer as brash punk Holly, Yasmine Aker as unscrupulous businesslike professor Dr. Whatley, and Lukas Gage as the doomed Carter. A seriously blah movie.
I've Seen Worse
Foutainoflife5 January 2019
What if when we are deprived of sleep we not only take away our own mental functionality but we deprive something out in the great unknown of something it needs as well? A group of folks look into treating sleep as an illness theorizing that if they could find a medication to get rid of the "illness" we would no longer need sleep. After a clinical trial goes tragically wrong, they attempt another trial on themselves sure that they are on the verge of a break through. What could happen?
So, I like the idea of this because, and maybe this is just me, it kinda has a Freddy Krueger feel even if it is a far cry from Freddy. We all need sleep and it is when we are most vulnerable. We have no idea what goes on while we are sleeping. So, I like the idea but the delivery could have been much better.
This is a slowly paced film and I got the feeling that it is supposed to be set in the 80's from the music and some of the clothing. There isn't a lot of character building so you never really get a chance to become invested in these characters. The acting and effects weren't too cheesy even though it is clearly a lower budgeted film. This isn't a polished film with all the works but it isn't that bad as far as low budget films go. This is one you really have to watch and come to your own conclusions as to whether it is good or not. For me it is a "Meh" film.
So, I like the idea of this because, and maybe this is just me, it kinda has a Freddy Krueger feel even if it is a far cry from Freddy. We all need sleep and it is when we are most vulnerable. We have no idea what goes on while we are sleeping. So, I like the idea but the delivery could have been much better.
This is a slowly paced film and I got the feeling that it is supposed to be set in the 80's from the music and some of the clothing. There isn't a lot of character building so you never really get a chance to become invested in these characters. The acting and effects weren't too cheesy even though it is clearly a lower budgeted film. This isn't a polished film with all the works but it isn't that bad as far as low budget films go. This is one you really have to watch and come to your own conclusions as to whether it is good or not. For me it is a "Meh" film.
GREAT
mackenziedslater21 January 2020
Cruel Cruel Summer
nogodnomasters12 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Following a suicide, a college sleepless experiment gets shut down. The suspended professor (Yasmine Aker) opts to continue the experiments during the summer break when no one is around. She uses a drug called cogniphan to aide in keeping people awake. The experiment is to show that after 200 hours awake a person will never have to sleep again and will have good cognitive skills...don't try this at home.
An issue arises when the folks not sleeping start to hallucinate seeing "ghosts." A very clever explanation is offered, one rather unique to the genre. The characters were fine, but not powerful. The film is more science fiction than horror.
Guide: F-word, brief sex, brief nudity.
An issue arises when the folks not sleeping start to hallucinate seeing "ghosts." A very clever explanation is offered, one rather unique to the genre. The characters were fine, but not powerful. The film is more science fiction than horror.
Guide: F-word, brief sex, brief nudity.
No Sleep Til..
DialoguePlotTwist6 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Plot: A bizarrely misrationalized experiment based around sleep deprivation goes unsurprisingly wrong.
The direction was pretty good which kept me awake and allowed me to finish the film. The acting and dialogue was passable. Predictable but executed in a way where the viewer may believe there could be an ultimate payoff. In a way, I would describe this effect almost as coercion. The visual effects were decent; certainly nothing spectacular though. More unsettling than scary unless you consider violence/blood your horror.
I particularly enjoyed Holly's performance. I didn't really get the ending too much, but I am chalking this one as a good one time watch.
The direction was pretty good which kept me awake and allowed me to finish the film. The acting and dialogue was passable. Predictable but executed in a way where the viewer may believe there could be an ultimate payoff. In a way, I would describe this effect almost as coercion. The visual effects were decent; certainly nothing spectacular though. More unsettling than scary unless you consider violence/blood your horror.
I particularly enjoyed Holly's performance. I didn't really get the ending too much, but I am chalking this one as a good one time watch.
LOVED IT
surfer-2468921 January 2020
I actually liked it.
Laiath8 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I started watching this movie with low expectations but it is actually pretty neat. There are only a few things that don't quite make sense, and they're minor. The acting isn't the best, but the effects aren't half bad. What really impressed me is that the plot is as solid as it gets for a movie of this caliber, and the story is belieavable. I would even call this a better alternative to the remake of Flatliners. Good job, guys!
SLEEPLESS TERROR
kirbylee70-599-5261794 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
There are a ton of horror movies released these days. At one time that was not the case, horror films only came in cycles and fans were forced to wait for those to come around again. But with the invention of streaming whole channels now are focused on the genre and films are being made with those channels in mind, movies that don't always play in theaters but go straight to disc and those channels. SLEEP NO MORE feels like it falls into that category, a horror film that's not bad but that you get the impression wouldn't have lasted long in a theater.
The story takes place in 1986 at a college where a group of grad students are experimenting with a new drug while trying to make a discovery about sleep and the lack of. Their theory is that once a person reaches 200 hours without sleep they no longer require it. The implications for this in use for soldiers and more would be astronomical.
The five students include leader Joe (Keli Price) who is sleeping with Professor Whatley (Yasmine Aker) in the side, Frannie (Brea Grant) the studious type member, Dale (Stephen Ellis) the class clown and Holly (Christine Dwyer) the girl with her own special secrets and Carter (Lukas Gage). As the film opens we witness Carter go off the deep end and commit suicide cutting his own throat after gauging out his eyes. This leads to an investigation where the study is shut down. Determined to carry on the rest decide to take matters into their own hands along with a professor willing to assist.
With break taking place they remain behind and set about carrying on the experiment, continuing to inject the experimental drug Cognifan into themselves while watching and recording the effects of the drug with no sleep. One by one they begin suffering from hallucinations, in some cases dangerously close to bringing them to action. The Dale is there control subject, not given the Cognifan. But he takes the drug after dozing off and waking then accidentally injecting it.
The question rises are the visions they are seeing simply images created due to sleep deprivation? Or was there something else that Carter saw, something so terrifying that it made him do what he did?
Comparison to films like FLATLINERS and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET will follow this film forever since those movies used similar concepts. But this one has its own take on the genre. It made for an interesting concept but as for the follow through on that my feelings are mixed.
The images seen by the group are CGI based and some will hate that aspect of it. I found that it didn't do any damage from my perspective. The ghostly images would be hard pressed with practical effects and the CGI here is far above anything seen in the weekly SyFy schlock films that channel puts out. They're genuinely creepy if not terrifying and add to the atmosphere.
The acting here is better than most films of the budget and all come off as believable. The setting rings true to with the cast confined to the dorm area the story takes place in. There's no need to run around campus due to the story involved. The cinematography is a bit lacking at moments but overall works fine. One thing the movie does to capture the time period is its use of popular music from the 80s. This works well in setting that period along with the Walkman being worn to listen to it.
On the whole the movie isn't a bad little flick with some enjoyable moments. I've read some reviews that have ravaged the film but didn't think it deserved the scorn that was being laid on it. I've seen much worse in low budget horror films and this one delivered on most of the marks it set out to hit. So if you're looking for something a little different this Halloween season give this one a watch. And then make sure you get a good night's rest.
The story takes place in 1986 at a college where a group of grad students are experimenting with a new drug while trying to make a discovery about sleep and the lack of. Their theory is that once a person reaches 200 hours without sleep they no longer require it. The implications for this in use for soldiers and more would be astronomical.
The five students include leader Joe (Keli Price) who is sleeping with Professor Whatley (Yasmine Aker) in the side, Frannie (Brea Grant) the studious type member, Dale (Stephen Ellis) the class clown and Holly (Christine Dwyer) the girl with her own special secrets and Carter (Lukas Gage). As the film opens we witness Carter go off the deep end and commit suicide cutting his own throat after gauging out his eyes. This leads to an investigation where the study is shut down. Determined to carry on the rest decide to take matters into their own hands along with a professor willing to assist.
With break taking place they remain behind and set about carrying on the experiment, continuing to inject the experimental drug Cognifan into themselves while watching and recording the effects of the drug with no sleep. One by one they begin suffering from hallucinations, in some cases dangerously close to bringing them to action. The Dale is there control subject, not given the Cognifan. But he takes the drug after dozing off and waking then accidentally injecting it.
The question rises are the visions they are seeing simply images created due to sleep deprivation? Or was there something else that Carter saw, something so terrifying that it made him do what he did?
Comparison to films like FLATLINERS and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET will follow this film forever since those movies used similar concepts. But this one has its own take on the genre. It made for an interesting concept but as for the follow through on that my feelings are mixed.
The images seen by the group are CGI based and some will hate that aspect of it. I found that it didn't do any damage from my perspective. The ghostly images would be hard pressed with practical effects and the CGI here is far above anything seen in the weekly SyFy schlock films that channel puts out. They're genuinely creepy if not terrifying and add to the atmosphere.
The acting here is better than most films of the budget and all come off as believable. The setting rings true to with the cast confined to the dorm area the story takes place in. There's no need to run around campus due to the story involved. The cinematography is a bit lacking at moments but overall works fine. One thing the movie does to capture the time period is its use of popular music from the 80s. This works well in setting that period along with the Walkman being worn to listen to it.
On the whole the movie isn't a bad little flick with some enjoyable moments. I've read some reviews that have ravaged the film but didn't think it deserved the scorn that was being laid on it. I've seen much worse in low budget horror films and this one delivered on most of the marks it set out to hit. So if you're looking for something a little different this Halloween season give this one a watch. And then make sure you get a good night's rest.
Original idea.
sgmi-535796 February 2022
Takes a stab (pun intended) at both period authenticity and an original concept for a horror film... not bad! You'll enjoy this at a late night feature, and probably want to give it another spin. Just remember, it's not in the upper tier of horror features. Still, nice job.
Why So Poorly Rated?
betchaareoffendedeasily21 October 2022
This movie should easily average a 5.8, it's not great, but it is good, and I was engrossed the entire time. Did they totally succeed in creating an 80's vibe? No, but it comes closer than most movies bc of the limited locations, some of the clothes are authentic to the time period, which is more than I can say for most of these movies set in the 1980's. I suspect that we're this experiment real, it would probably go just like it does in the film. It has unexpected consequences and careens out of control.
What this movie also has is somewhat dull, but mostly likeable characters, and a fittingly bitchy antagonist. I cared about the fate of our protagonists. The final solution at the end of the film works and the monsters are creating and we'll done. I actually had a dream the night I watched it with the monsters, so there you go.
All in all, I don't get the hate this film gets, it does a good job of creating a certain kind of mood and tension and holds it all of the way through. It's a slow-paced movie though. I'm guessing that's why so many on here dislike it, but I would absolutely call it a slow burn, and it deserves to find it's audience, it is a good low-budget sci-fi thriller.
What this movie also has is somewhat dull, but mostly likeable characters, and a fittingly bitchy antagonist. I cared about the fate of our protagonists. The final solution at the end of the film works and the monsters are creating and we'll done. I actually had a dream the night I watched it with the monsters, so there you go.
All in all, I don't get the hate this film gets, it does a good job of creating a certain kind of mood and tension and holds it all of the way through. It's a slow-paced movie though. I'm guessing that's why so many on here dislike it, but I would absolutely call it a slow burn, and it deserves to find it's audience, it is a good low-budget sci-fi thriller.
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