Sandman: Tu peor pesadilla

Although the movie reminded me of the "Freddy" films and the movie "Dust Devil," It had enough creepy moments to make it a worthwhile viewing. A repeated flashback/dream sequence was exceptionally disturbing and the Sandman's Lullaby was really chilling. Also, the ending was unexpected. Some thought and creativity went onto the Special Effects and for once the killer was underplayed.

The basic idea, a killer coming back from the dead as a guy made of sand in order to kill people again, isn't bad, and the movie has a few scary moments, but the effects are far from special. One of the effects that gets incredibly over-used happens whenever the killer turns into sand and defies gravity to pour himself up into air vents or whatever happens to be nearby. At first, it looks pretty cool, but if you turn your head upside down to watch the scene, it's pretty obvious how it was done, and the entire movie looks cheaper. If I remember right, there's a great plot twist towards the end, but it's too little, too late to save this movie. I don't recommend Sleepstalker.

As a young boy, Griffin Davis' (Jay Underwood) parents were killed by an infamous serial-murderer known as The Sandman (Michael Harris), who is subsequently apprehended by police. 17 years later, The Sandman is executed, and Griffin believes the nightmare is finally over.

Unfortunately, at the eleventh hour, with the help of a mysterious preacher (Michael D. Roberts), The Sandman is transformed into the SLEEPSTALKER. Now, Griffin must face his greatest fear.

This supernatural horror film has a semi-interesting premise that is mostly undermined by its nonexistent budget and hit-and-miss acting. Also, the antagonist just isn't all that terrifying. He's far more cheeeze than sand, making this a rather dull affair.

However, it's nice to see the great Ken Foree in anything, even this...

At first glance this looks like a complete rip off of the far superior "Dust Devil" (check out the opening credits). The characters are laughably wafer thin - especially the Hispanic gang banger. But fair play the guy who plays the evil priest hams it up to superb effect (the funniest thing about this movie). I can't believe I actually sat through this and I can honestly say as a long time horror movie fan, there is nothing to report here. Zero suspense and about as scary as a big fluffy bunny!

I have only seen SLEEPSTALKER twice: and that was on cable.

I saw it first in 1997 and then recently this year (2001).

The thing in this movie that is really scary is the sad, mournful lullabye "Sleep baby, sleep...down where the woodbines creep...be always like the lamb, so mild and kind and sweet...sleep baby, sleep." TOO HYPNOTICALLY SCARY!! Woodbine is a plant that is remotely associated with the Grim Reaper (Death)

The whole premise of a convicted killer offering his soul to satan in exchange for immortality is nothing new to the horror movie genre...but the dialogue and special effects were pretty pitiful.

The similarity between the Sandman and Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) is that both of these "nightime nightmare boogeymonsters" had rotten childhoods wraught with child abuse, and grow up to be killers... Hmmmm...interesting concept. I give this one a five out of ten.