Behind the Wall of Sleep

Anyone who has read the story will appreciate the first couple of reels. The cameo roles are all in this section (you know, real actors), and these small parts are played with a barren authenticity which successfully communicates the childlike vulnerability of these hillfolk, a major element of the original story. The filmmakers must be given props for these opening scenes, for they do flirt with genius.

Now, if ever there was a greater contrast than day and night it would be the body of this film as opposed to it's intro. Dear God, the acting is not acting, the dialogue is stale, overwritten, and unnecessary in far too many places. The "horrors" of the asylum seem hasty, and are just lame. It's bad. It's like the film making talent was checked at the front desk of the asylum. WHAT HAPPENED ????

I went to blockbuster the other day and rented this movie, from the cover it looked like it was going to be pretty good, but the thing was terrible. Now I know there are some really bad movies out there, but this looks like something someone made as a high school project. The acting is terrible, the plot is stupid, and just everything about it is just plain BAD. This type of movie should not be at blockbuster, many people are going to look at it and expect a good Hollywood scary movie and end up wasting their money and time. If you want to see this movie so bad, thats why they have netflix, but seriously, this is like the Gigli of the genre, so you have been warned.

Behind the wall of sleep is based on a H.P. Lovecraft story, and though I haven't read a lot of Lovecraft I have seen a lot of movies based on his work. This little gem is certainly a must see for Lovecraft lovers. Not so much for it's closeness to the story, which I can't comment on, but for the simple quality of film.

Behind is about a psychiatrist in a low rent asylum who takes on an inbred patient who killed his family. Problems ultimately arise when the psychiatrist becomes obsessed with the patient believing that a deformity on the patients back is a deity who longs for freedom, and brains.

Though the acting is at times hard to watch, it is almost fitting in the melodramatic and Gothic settings. The cinematography is hectic and "artschool", but again works well with the story.

Don't get me wrong. This movie ain't perfect, but compared to many of the Lovecraft movies this is one of the more enjoyable. It won't kill you to watch it once so I say give it a try. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Just to let everyone know...

....this is not "Beyond the Wall of Sleep".

That's the crappy direct-to-video Lovecraft flick with William Sanderson. This is actually a documentary on the making of that crappy direct-to-video Lovecraft flick. Hence - BEHIND the Wall of Sleep. everything everyone has said here is indeed true of Beyond the Wall of Sleep. It's tripe.

I've seen the rough cut of this doc and thought it was hilarious and fascinating. Unfortunately, as far as I know, it's unavailable on DVD.

Cheers!