What Happens When You Sleep?

When discovering that his girlfriend Katie is being haunted by a ghost, Micah buys a camera and EVP equipment to investigate the haunting. When the haunting becomes more frequent and severe they even turn to a paranormal expert for help. As the days progress the couple becomes desperate to find a solution they resort to any option they have, even the use of an Ouija board. What really did happen in that house? What happened while they slept? The tapes left in the house from Micah’s camera will hopefully answer all the questions.

This film is the best example of how powerful the word of mouth can be. This film was made on a $15,000 budget with no known actors, had almost a non-existent marketing campaign, and had a very low key release. The original plan was to release this film at a number of college towns with the gimmick of midnight only showings. The original 33 screenings garnered 20 sellout shows and the rest were all near sellouts. The hype machine quickly went into action and the distributors gave the film a 2nd chance in a few major cities. Again, another midnight only showing. Nearly all the screenings sold out and in comparison to most movies still went virtually unmentioned. Now the demand is so great (800,000+ requests on Eventful.com) that the film has now earned itself a major release. The 3rd special midnight screenings, which I attended, again earned sellouts or near sellouts. And this was all by word of mouth.

The movie brings us, the audience, back once again to the “home video” style mockumentary. The idea for this film is very simple. Take a home video camera and records “haunting” that are occurring in a house. The movie most resembles a more intense episode of Ghost Hunters than a horror movie but the “real” atmosphere creates a sense of eeriness that a typical horror movie can’t touch. I’m beginning to get sick of the “home video” horror movie but this movie felt more real and along the lines of the Blair Witch Project rather than just be a regular movie that had the home video style like Cloverfield.

The greatest thing about this film is the buildup. Writer/Director Oren Peli does an excellent job of pacing the film and setting up the climax. The film starts out with little bumps and noises, progresses into loud bangs and slamming doors, into the more wild incidents that start to happen towards the conclusion of the film. Peli is able to build up the suspense in perfect order to where you are clutching your arm rest with anticipation of the next scare.

Peli definitely didn’t do it alone. I give a lot of credit on selling the film to the main actors Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat. Their acting seemed more natural at times than a lot of Hollywood’s A-List. The interaction as boyfriend and girlfriend during the downtimes seemed as if they truly have been dating for 3 years and their terror seemed very genuine during the movies more intense moments. I’m really impressed with these unknown actors and hope this wins them more gigs. I’d hate to see them fall off like the three actors from The Blair Witch Project.

Was this movie worth only getting an hour of sleep for? Was it worthy of its little hype wagon? I think so. The whole “home video” style is becoming played out but I think this is one of those films that I can look passed that easy way out because it really played well to the concept of the film. Had this been shot like any other film it wouldn’t have had the same effect. The entire theater seemed to be engrossed in the film the entire time. Every time a scare happened you could see the whole theater jump and/or scream. It’s not the best film ever made but seeing it in the theater and going home to a dark house afterwards was definitely an experience that I recommend. I give the film a B+. Very enjoyable and if horror movies bother you, the “real” vibe this film gives off will really scare you.

damn, i really need to get the dvd review section up

i wouldn't make it DVD because alot of my reviews are films still in the theater.

I would make it just movie reviews.

good review...thanks Wren

cant wait to see this

Yeah i really wanna see this. Good review dude.

Good review.

Oh and good review on the DVD review.

just got back from seeing this movie. it was literally the worst movie I've ever seen. nothing scary abput it. typical "scary" movie where the entire film they just talk about what happens and then the scary part is at the very end. not worth paying the $10 to go see it. was really disappointed after seeing it hyped up as much as it was. save your money.

I probably should have added a section to the review that covered the fact that i think you need to be into the concept of the film to really enjoy it. I guess i can see how it would be boring. I think you need to be open to the idea of ghosts and hauntings to really appreciate it. If you are not into shows like Ghost Hunters, Paranormal State, or MTV's Fear then you won't be into this movie.

So far though, you are the first person i've heard say it was bad.

no wren that's the thing I love all of those ghost hunter shows especially the one that's on the travel channel and I was a film major in college so I'm usually open to any concept that is original like blair witch, cloverfield, paranormal activity, etc. but I guess I was just disappointed with this film because it was hyped up so much like how people were saying that they lost sleep over this movie and that it's the scariest movie ever blah blah blah when there was probably a total of 3 scary scenes in the entire movie. So far, everyone that I've talked to that has seen this movie thought it was terrible.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Dave B.

just got back from seeing this movie. it was literally the worst movie I've ever seen. nothing scary abput it. typical "scary" movie where the entire film they just talk about what happens and then the scary part is at the very end. not worth paying the $10 to go see it. was really disappointed after seeing it hyped up as much as it was. save your money.

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i have a friend that said the same thing

to each his own.

It's really getting good reviews too.


And apparently when it finally got into the hands of Steven Spielberg to review, he came back to the office with the tape in a garbage bag because he thought the tape was haunted. He said that he watched the flick and then his doors locked themselves and he couldn't get them open without the help of a locksmith. Atleast that's the story they are telling everyone.

The movie almost was redone with a bigger budget but a test audience had a dozen people walk out of the theater scared so they kept the version you saw (only the ending was slightly changed).


i'm not worried you hate the film. i only provide my reviews based on my opinion.

seeing Zombieland should make up for your experience. If you hate that movie, you hate all that is good.

I heard about some of the alternate endings and they all sounded way better than the one that they went with

quote:

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Originally posted by: WREN

seeing Zombieland should make up for your experience. If you hate that movie, you hate all that is good.

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saw zombieland last week and loved it!

quote:

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Originally posted by: Dave B.

I heard about some of the alternate endings and they all sounded way better than the one that they went with

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i'll pm you the alternate ending so i don't ruin the actual ending for anyone else.

that ending sounds better than the original one I think