Sleepwalker

Obnoxious well-to-do businessman Richard (Nickolas Grace) and his wife Angela (Joanna David) are invited to dinner and to stay the night at the remote home of brother and sister Alex and Marion (Bill Douglas and Heather Page). When the storm raging overhead causes the meal to be ruined, the foursome go to a nearby inn, where personalities clash.

Arriving back at the hosts' home, Richard continues to be abrasive, and the evening comes to an abrupt end. During the night, one of the group turns to murder.

Someone at the British Film Institute deemed this obscure mid-'80s horror worthy of a DVD release, with all the bells and whistles. I don't understand it, myself: even though the film has a scant run-time of just over fifty minutes, I found the whole thing an insufferable bore, with loathesome characters, dull conversation, very little in the way of plot, and just one reasonable death scene (a meat cleaver in the chest).

I seem to be in the minority in disliking the film (IMDb currently has four positive reviews, although one appears to be written by the director), so it seems as though I may have missed something that others enjoyed. Or maybe I'm just being honest because I'm not connected with the making of the film or its release on DVD.

Siblings Marion (Heather Page) and Alex (Comrades (1986) director Bill Douglas in a rare acting role) share a crumbling cottage in the countryside. With Alex seemingly under constant stress due to his writing job, their relationship is somewhat strained, and things get worse when they are visited out of the blue by city-dwelling husband and wife Richard (Nickolas Grace) and Angela (Joanna David). Richard in an appalling, outspoken yuppie with a fondness for homophobic slights, and tensions mount as they go out for a dinner and the alcohol starts to flow. Afterwards back at the house, things start to get weird when somebody starts to sleepwalk with murderous in mind.

Re-released recently as part of the BFI's 'Flipside' series, which celebrates anything British, obscure and bizarre, Sleepwalker is an extremely odd yet mostly absorbing experience. While the tone is certainly British, the style is distinctly Italian. The first two- thirds consists of amusing, well-scripted character building, as the foursome clash and size each other up, while the remaining portion set back at the house goes into full-blown horror mode, turning the relatively small house into a disorientating labyrinth. It's a giallo at heart, with the work of Dario Argento in particular no doubt an influence on director Saxon Logan (cool name). Running at just over 50 minutes, the movie passes by in a flash and will probably leave you scratching your head when the screen fades to black, but it's also a film that didn't leave my mind for days afterwards, and left me itching to experience it again.

Finally granted a release after too long in limbo,director Saxon Logan's sublime SLEEPWALKER hits DVD courtesy of the BFI in a dazzling,all-singing-and-dancing edition. Packed with extras,including two witty,earlier shorts from Saxon,as well as a great feature length interview with the man that is both enlightening and deeply moving,this gem of a movie,a 50 minute masterpiece,could best be described as "Mike Leigh meets a Nightmare on Thatcher St via Italian giallo's" (all will become clear when you watch it). I was fortunate enough a decade ago to meet with Saxon on a number of occasions and see this tremendous prize winner at the Berlin film festival play to appreciative audiences as it should have done back in the 80's - especially at the Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester - and so it is a real treat that this much neglected film of it's era,stupidly denied a release in the UK,finally has it's day,and emerges blinking into the light,more relevant than ever! Funny,scary,politically charged,stylistically beautiful,please do yourself a favour and buy this DVD and tell all your friends, the wait is over.. Mike Wesley

Greetings And Salutations, and welcome to my review of Sleepwalker; here's the breakdown of my ratings:

Story: 1.50 Direction: 1.00 Pace: 1.25 Acting: 1.25 Enjoyment: 1.25

TOTAL: 6.25 out of 10.00

Sleepwalker being a British movie, I felt obliged to give it a look-see, being an Englishman and all. And though I wasn't overly impressed, I was cordially entertained.

The story, especially the characterisations, is the main driving force behind this short film. Even though the piccy is titled, Sleepwalker, the somnambulism isn't a primary factor, it's secondary, and because it rears its sleepy head at the climax of the narrative, it has the feeling of being bolted on to produce the desired ending. The individuals, their personas, their beliefs, and their relationships create interest and drama for the viewer. Differing viewpoints infuriate and ramp up the tension between them. The toxic relationship between Brother and Sister drives the couple to near violence. And the open flirtatiousness causes unease and insecurity. But these emotions and their deadly outcome are just an Allegory for Britain in the 80s. This comparison is particularly evident in the couples' surnames. Richard and Angela Paradise and Alex and Marion Britain. The Paradise's are the yuppie nouveau-riche, happy to make their money off the backs of others and then rub it in their faces. And because they've been lucky enough to make it, they believe those that don't are lazy and feeble-minded. Brother Britain believes differently. For him, everyone is equal and should have equal opportunities and benefits. They shouldn't be only for the privileged. Sister Britain isn't bothered as she's too absorbed in her loathing and dislikes for her brother. And Mrs Paradise is a conscientious observer. It's a clever little play packed with gripping dialogue and captivating situations. And in a lot of ways, it's a mirror of the population's thoughts at the time.

Saxon Logan is an above-average director. In the main, he lets the play unfold, allowing the narrative, dialogue, and the performers to do the bulk of the work. Logan composes the scenes ideally - Capturing the principal players of the segment perfectly in the frame. When the couples retire to their beds for the night, he adds a cold blue filter to show the bitter temperature of the season and within the house.

A great cast is essential for a production relying heavily on its character-driven story. Sadly, this is not a great cast.

: The performers are good and definitely above-average, but not great. As such, a little of the drive and motivation slip. The best segment is the restaurant. It's here when we get to know more about our quartet, especially Richard Paradise. And the actors and actresses come across okay, though Bill Douglas as Alex Britain is too angry too quickly. It would've been more realistic to have simmering displeasure before the all-out nuclear fury. Joanna David as Angela Paradise is too mousy, even when she has lines. It gives an illusory feel to her performance.

All in all, Sleepwalker is now an enjoyable reminisce of what we once were. As a story in its own right - forget the allegory stuff - it isn't too bad. The conflict is still constant today, even if some of our beliefs and rights have altered. I would happily recommend Sleepwalker to everyone because it's more of a dark drama than horror or thriller. And because it's short, should you dislike it, you'll have wasted only fifty minutes - It's a flick to ponder on while supping a cuppa tea or mugga coffee.

Now, WAKE UP and check my Dramatisation Of Life list to see where I ranked Sleepwalker.

Take Care & Stay Well.

This short film, largely set in a marvellous, rambling, yet crumbling country cottage begins brilliantly. There are ominous shadows and attractive shafts of light only partially illuminating the interior before a storm thunders above creating havoc. The film also concludes in great style with much blood curdling action more reminiscent of an Italian gallo than an English old dark house tale. Unfortunately the two siblings are visited by their sister and her husband. He is played by Nickolas Grace and regrettably his over acting is evident from his first appearance in the car as the couple try to find the cottage. Because of storm damage the four go to a local inn for dinner and for some reason director Saxon Logan has the dialogue become something of a diatribe for and against Thatcherism and with Grace allowed full reign, this is a rather embarrassing episode. As I say, back at the cottage the sinister and brilliantly conceived horror develops. Just a shame about that dinner break.