sleep

Sleep ~ Can You Not Sleep or Are You Possessed?

“Sleep” is a 2023 Korean movie, categorized as Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror, Thriller, Dark Comedy, and Mystery; and streaming on Disney+/Hulu.

SUMMARY: A young couple’s marriage is put to the test.

Theres Blood on the Floor. This Can’t Be a Sleep Disorder.

In “Sleep”, Soo-Jin is heavily pregnant. She should be giving birth any day now. Her husband, Hyun-Soo, told her that marriage is about tackling problems together. There is nothing that they can’t overcome if they just stay together and work it out. She believed him and she believed he believed what he said.

One night she rolled over to find him sitting up on the edge of the bed. He said, “Someone’s inside”. Soo-Jin wasn’t sure what he meant. He climbed back into bed and went to sleep, but she got up to look around the house because she heard noises. Their door was open and the wind was blowing it back and forth. She shut the door but noticed bloody paw prints on the floor. They have a little dog and it was hiding underneath the bed. That was the beginning of their nightmare.

Another morning, she woke up and Hyun-Soo’s face was bloody. When she found her dog in their refrigerator, she knew there was a serious problem. It got worse. Another night, she followed her husband while he was sleepwalking, and he started eating raw meat out of the refrigerator. This is horrific! But they’re married, and marriage is about tackling problems together.

Like any loving and dutiful wife, she got on the Internet and researched sleep disorders. Soo-Jin found a doctor and took her husband for treatment, but he didn’t get any better. Soo-Jin’s mother is old school, and she brought in a shaman. By this time, Soo-Jin had given birth to their baby girl, and the grandmother was afraid something might happen to the child. The shaman said two men were living in the house with them. Whenever her husband fell asleep, the other man would possess him. The shaman said she couldn’t help drive out the ghost because she needed a name. Soo-Jin needed to find out who he was.

Initially, Soo-Jin and Hyun-Soo dismissed the shaman’s words as nonsense. But as time passed the environment in the home with Soo-Jin and their baby became dangerous. The medical treatment was not working. WHAT IF the shaman is right? Soo-Jin searched for the men she dated before they got married, but they were all alive. So who is this “other man” that had invaded their lives? He killed their dog.  Does he plan to harm or kill their baby? Oh no! That’s not going to happen!

Soo-Jin’s mama bear instincts kicked in. She believed that marriage was about tackling problems together. But Hyun-Soo didn’t believe that he was being possessed, AND her baby’s life is in danger. If she can’t get the ghost to LEAVE and go to the next world, he might kill their daughter, AND they are going to live with him until they die! The ghost may be a supernatural being now, but he was once a human. There has to be a reason why he doesn’t want to leave this world, and there has to be a way to MAKE HIM LEAVE WHETHER HE WANTS TO OR NOT! It’s mama bear against the ghost.

Main Characters:

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

  • IMDb: 6.6 out of 10 stars
  • My Drama List: 7.5 out of 10 stars
  • Letterboxd: 3.4 out of 5 stars
  • Amazon customers rated the film: 4.3 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as Letterboxd.

The movie “Sleep” is very interesting. Lot of reviewers shared their critique. The female lead won Best Actress – 2023 (44th) Blue Dragon Film Awards. Sadly, the male lead passed away tragically on December 27, 2023, at the age of 48. His death was ruled a suicide.

NOTE: Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is real but relatively rare. Ghost possession is kind of IFFY. There are no scientifically verified cases, but there are a couple of famous stories. For example, the case of Anneliese Michel in Germany and the story of Anna Ecklund in the United States.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Sleep review – marriage unravels in gleeful Korean somnambulist psycho-chiller | Movies | The Guardian

‘Sleep’ Review: Husbands Go Bump in the Night in Korean Ghost Story | Variety

Unseen Terrors: The Slow Unraveling of Trust in ‘Sleep’ | The Asian Cut

Sleep Review: Intimate, Dizzying South Korean Ghost Horror Puts Newlyweds In A Terrifying Ordeal | screenrant

Review: Jason Yu’s ‘Sleep’ Is A Near-Perfect Horror Comedy | Vulture

Sleep” Review: A Sleepless Thriller That Thrives on Paranoia and Friction | VIEW OF THE ARTS

TRAILER/TEASER:

Magnolia Pictures &. Magnet Releasing. “Sleep – Official Trailer.” YouTube, 14 Aug. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yww5bCIChM.

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Avatar of Poncho
Poncho

High Heat

86 messages 1 like

The beginning felt like it was about a real medical issue. REM sleep behavior disorder is a real condition, and the film used it in a way that made me think it might stay realistic. But then they introduced a shaman and talked about possession. That’s where it became more about belief than science. I still liked it because it showed how a person would try everything—doctors, Internet, even spiritual help—when they’re desperate. The story made me think about how different cultures see mental illness. In some countries, people believe in ghosts more than they believe in psychology. That was interesting to me. I think the movie had a good balance between horror and drama. Not everyone will like it, but if you’re open to different ideas, you might enjoy it like I did.

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Avatar of Pompom
Pompom

New Member

11 messages 1 like

Thoughtful & Detailed: I think the premise of Sleep is incredibly intriguing. It’s fascinating to see how the film blends the supernatural with real-world issues like marriage and mental health. The idea that sleepwalking could lead to something as horrific as possession is chilling but also makes you question whether there’s a deeper psychological explanation. The scene with the dog in the fridge, for example, adds a layer of tension and mystery that keeps you on edge. Soo-Jin’s determination to protect her family is commendable, and it’s clear that her instincts are what drive her to take action. This film taps into primal fears—what if the person closest to you isn’t who they seem to be anymore? On a broader level, it also explores the strength of relationships in times of crisis, which is something we don’t see often in horror. The ghost story element could feel far-fetched to some, but I think the movie makes it work with its eerie atmosphere and psychological complexity.

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Avatar of Vic
Vic

KISS OF DEATH

286 messages 20 likes

I don’t know how I feel about Sleep. The whole ghost possession thing doesn’t really do it for me. I mean, I get that it’s a supernatural horror film, but at the end of the day, it just feels like an excuse for strange events. The whole “husband sleepwalking” trope has been done before, and it’s just a bit too unbelievable. I’d have preferred if they stuck with a more realistic angle. Plus, the whole shaman subplot? A little too out there for me.

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Avatar of Brave Maeve
Brave Maeve

New Member

17 messages 0 likes

Wow, this movie is something else! Sleep is such a wild mix of genres, and I really didn’t expect to be so hooked. The suspense builds up slowly but surely, and the way the tension escalates is just perfect. I actually found the idea of the husband being possessed by another spirit super unsettling—it’s one of those things that makes you feel like something’s off even when nothing overtly supernatural is happening. And Soo-Jin! She was such a fierce character. I love how she didn’t give up on her husband, even when he was basically beyond help. There was a point where I honestly thought the ghost might just be another form of a mental illness, but the shaman twist threw me off! It was such an unexpected direction, but I’m glad the film leaned into it. This is definitely a movie that will keep you thinking long after it’s over.

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Avatar of Catalie
Catalie

Dreamer, Believer, Achiever

15 messages 0 likes

While I appreciate the unique blend of horror, psychological drama, and family elements in Sleep, I do feel that the execution falls a bit flat in places. The whole concept of possession is tricky, especially when it’s tied to a sleep disorder, which is a real medical condition. The movie starts off strong, with a suspenseful atmosphere, but as it goes on, the plot becomes more and more reliant on supernatural elements, which, in my opinion, detracts from the tension it initially builds. The shaman subplot is a little too far-fetched for me, and it feels like a forced attempt to add some depth. That being said, I do appreciate the performances, especially the lead actress, who carries the emotional weight of the story. I just wish the film could’ve stayed grounded in its more psychological aspects.

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Avatar of Norelle
Norelle

Member

132 messages 7 likes

Wow, this movie is something else! Sleep is such a wild mix of genres, and I really didn’t expect to be so hooked. The suspense builds up slowly but surely, and the way the tension escalates is just perfect. I actually found the idea of the husband being possessed by another spirit super unsettling—it’s one of those things that makes you feel like something’s off even when nothing overtly supernatural is happening. And Soo-Jin! She was such a fierce character. I love how she didn’t give up on her husband, even when he was basically beyond help. There was a point where I honestly thought the ghost might just be another form of a mental illness, but the shaman twist threw me off! It was such an unexpected direction, but I’m glad the film leaned into it. This is definitely a movie that will keep you thinking long after it’s over.

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Avatar of DramasOverKimchi
DramasOverKimchi

Well-Known Member

1,285 messages 54 likes

“Sleep” is a 2023 Korean movie, categorized as Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror, Thriller, Dark Comedy, and Mystery; and streaming on Disney+/Hulu. SUMMARY: A young couple’s marriage is put to the test. ♦ There‘s Blood on the Floor. This Can’t Be a Sleep Disorder. In “Sleep”, Soo-Jin is heavily pregnant. She should be giving birth any day now. Her husband, Hyun-Soo, told her that marriage is about tackling problems together. There is nothing that they can’t overcome if they just stay together and work it out. She believed him and she believed he believed what he said.
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Wait, so “Sleep” is a horror thriller with a pregnant woman and some supernatural twists? Color me intrigued but also slightly terrified! 😱 I mean, can you imagine dealing with all that stress and then throwing in some creepy supernatural elements? That’s a hard pass for my sleep schedule!

But for real, is it actually good or are we just hyped because of the genre mashup? I need to know if I should add this to my watchlist or just stick to rewatching “Goblin” for the 100th time. Also, is the dark comedy part actually funny or is it just a way to lighten the horror vibes? Let’s discuss!

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