Sleep Tight (2011)

Sleep Tight is a foreign film i know most people haven't heard about unless you live in Spain of course, it barely got a release in America but now it's out on blu-ray and digital and is definitely a must watch. First thing though if you hate subtitles walk away because watching it with dubbed voices is criminal. Anyway the movie comes from the director of [REC] 1&2 and is his best film yet, sleep tight takes place almost exclusively inside a small apartment complex and tells the story of Caesar the complexes lobby and maintenance worker and his fascination with the tenant Clara and how she's always happy. I won't go any further with plot points as doing so will ruin it but the movie makes you think about how you trust someone yet that person can be just plain evil. The concept is very dark and surprisingly original and bolstered by fantastic performances, beautiful direction and writing with gorgeous cinematography and editing. A must rent or buy in my opinion. But fair warning this movie is done in a very intense Slow-Burn style so the movie moves at a slower pace.

After directing two POW thrillers "[REC]" and its sequel, a director team Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza took separate paths. While Paco Plaza went on to direct another sequel to the "[REC]" franchise alone, Jaume Balagueró chose to direct "Sleep Tight" ("Mientras duermes"), a thriller whose success with audiences may depend on how much they can suspend their disbelief.

"Sleep Tight" centers on César (Luis Tosar), a quiet Barcelona apartment building concierge with a secret. Without giving away much about the film's convoluted storyline, he is interested in one resident, ever-cheerful Clara (Marta Etura). Also, another resident seems to know something about his "secret."

As the story slowly unfolds, you will know more about César, who finds his meaning of life in something that most people would deem as unusual or unhealthy. Perhaps some viewers may find the central character César intriguing, while others notice in him an all-too-familiar narrative pattern, in which our protagonist greatly benefits from lucky coincidences and other supporting characters' incredibly stupid decisions.

It is true, as some critics point out, that the film is free from familiar thriller conventions, but Balagueró actually borrows its key ideas from other thrillers: one from Hitchcock and one from Almodóvar. Not that "Sleep Tight" is a rip-off, as it has a few unique aspects, especially its ending. Still, as far as characters go, Balagueró's are disappointingly flat, in spite of Luis Tosar's effective performance.

So is it worth watching? It depends. Maybe once. Not a bad thriller though with characters that we do not care much it fails to leave much impact.

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This movie starts off ordinarily enough, and then sucks you right in! How anyone can be as despicable as the main character is beyond my imagination. I love the way they established the setting and the characters from the beginning. From then on it gets worse, with every scenario worse than the preceding one. The main character is relentless and I love the actor playing him. This is what thrillers are made of! I can't wait to purchase the DVD.

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This is not a slasher film (in the traditional sense)) but certainly reveals a lot of physical, mental and sexual pain as inflicted by a middle aged misanthropic psychopath. The sadist, in this case, is an outwardly mild mannered concierge in a Spanish apartment building who vacillates between suicidal urges and drives to inflict humiliation and degradation on the unfortunate tenants and neighbors in his building. He is at his worse when other are happy, and most at peace when others despair. Even his own ailing mother doesn't escape his hatred. So, be prepared for a discomforting adventure that is well-acted and truly believable. English subtitles.

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Cesar (Luis Tosar) is the concierge/super for an apartment building. He seems like a normal helpful person, however under it all he is not a people person. At night he has chloroform sex with Clara, an unsuspecting tenant. He confesses his misdeeds to his mother, who is bed ridden, unable to speak, only cry. He is also being blackmailed by a young girl (Iris Almeida) who espies him coming out of Clara's room (Marta Etura).

The film is not overly graphic and goes easy on the "perv" factor. You are drawn into the film to see how far Cesar will go to make everyone miserable. It is a well done production, unlike so many "B" films in this genre.

The film lacks any real good "B" horror. At the same time it is a "B" movie subject. I would imagine the niche is narrow for a fan base in this slow moving tale.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, brief sex, brief nudity.

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