Non andate a dormire

Phillip and Laura (Dennis Weaver and Valerie Harper) and the kids, Kevin and Mary (Oliver Robins and Robin Ignico) are moving in to their new house. Surprise! Laura's peevish mother, Bernice (Ruth Gordon) has beat them there, and is already moving her belongings in, much to Phillip's exasperation!

Bernice brings more than just inconvenience along with her. She puts up pictures of Jennifer (Kristin Cumming), her older granddaughter who was lost in an accident. In no time, Mary is visited by a mysterious presence, while woo-woo music plays. Then, a near tragic "accident" occurs. This is only the beginning.

Has Jennifer returned from the grave?

If this apparent specter is to be believed, then Jennifer was one wicked child! Can death be far off? Nope. In this movie's case, it's true that no one is safe!

DON'T GO TO SLEEP is a spook-tacular, made-for-TV movie full of possible possession, ghostly goings on, and insanity. Beneath the supernatural trappings, it's also a story of guilt, remorse, and haunting memories. How does anyone move on from a tragic loss, while believing they're somehow responsible for it?

For a TV movie, this is very grim stuff! Weaver and Harper play the shattered parents well, and Ms. Gordon adds her signature gusto -with extra vinegar!- to her character. Robin Ignico is believable, and Oliver Robins pretty much reprises his POLTERGEIST role.

EXTRA CREDIT FOR: The "watermelon" and "Bathtub-blackout / pizza cutter" scenes. P.S.- Do not miss the epilogue!...

I was quite young when I first saw this movie and it left a lasting impression on me to say the very least. Because of how young I was, I had a very difficult time remembering the title, but the movie itself stayed with me well into adulthood. I could only remember bits and pieces: a family of five gets into a car accident, the oldest sister does not survive, and a creepy scene with a pizza cutter running along the banister. That was about it but it was enough.

Finally, I found the title of this movie (Oddly enough by searching for "death by pizza cutter" as a joke on google.com) and couldn't believe after all this time I had found it!

Although this movie is obviously early 80's, the story, acting, and general creepiness has been able to withstand the test of time. Sure, there are moments of cheesiness, but that's a given for most horror/thriller movies and really only adds to the fun in watching one. I simply cannot believe this was a made for tv movie, and it's disgusting that few movies now can live up to a small flick from the 80's. There has been only one movie that was released relatively recently that came close to inspiring that same fear: Intensity.

Gore and violence is not really a part of this movie. It captivates through suggestion at times, and the building up of fear and through the playing of psychological games. Honestly, this movie was INCREDIBLE. If you have the chance, SEE IT! Try not to think in terms of modern filmmaking capabilities and rather see this movie for what it was and continues to be: a creepy, thrilling horror movie. I guarantee, once this movie gets you into its clutches, it will refuse to let go. Undoubtedly 10 out of 10 stars...an incredible rating for a MFTV movie...especially one from the 80's.

I've rated this movie higher than I would if it were theatrically released. One of the biggest problems with nearly every TV movie is pacing. Arranging the story so there is enough suspense to keep an audience through commercials tends to create awkward pacing, and this movie is no exception. But the movie has enough of a story to keep things moving forward. Direction is largely competent, except for a very poor opening credits sequence. Script is also acceptable. Characters are not especially likable, but in a story like this, that doesn't matter much.

There are two scenes that especially stuck in my memory as a child; the first being the frisbee scene. The second was the pizza cutter. Given the lack of real menace in the movie, the direction was surprisingly effective in making things creepy.

I only wish that made-for-TV productions kept this sort of sensibility.

Entirely worth tracking down for aficionados of early 80s horror.

I recently heard about this movie and found a 'collector's copy' (read: bootleg) on e-bay(it's a made-for-tv film that was never released on video). To say this movie is scary, creepy and one of the best tv movies ever made is a complete understatement. After watching it, I was stunned and totally freaked out. Dennis Weaver and Valerie Harper are amazing as the parents of a little girl who keeps seeing the ghost of her dead sister, killed a year earlier in a mysterious accident (I guarantee you M. Night Shumaylan used this film as an inspiration for THE SIXTH SENSE). The scene where Weaver and Harper confront/attack each other over the death of their child is frightening and heartbreaking. That scene alone should have netted both of them an emmy, especially Harper. She's brilliant.

Frightening, eerie, creepy, and very ballsy for a tv movie from 1982 (produced by Aaron Spelling!). Current television MOW writers should hang their heads in shame when they compare the current disease-of-the-week drivel they churn out with this classic ghost story (written by actor Ned Wynn, son of actor Keenan Wynn). Whoever owns the rights to this (I'm assuming ABC) please get it out on DVD or else I'M gonna start bootlegging it! The public has GOT to get this!

I've seen this eerie film back in 1986 at my aunt's house. It was unexpected at the time, I was looking for a family movie, and it turned out to be a spooky shocker. It took place in December of 1982 where a girl named Mary survived an auto accident along with her family...her sister Jennifer did not make it. Jump a year later which was initiated from the opening, poor Mary seems to be having nitemares of her deceased sister Jennifer. She even hears Jennifer calling her name through the dark. Soon enough, the late Jennifer appears under Mary's bed. The dead sister makes nocturnal visits and Mary is astounded. Later, weird sudden deaths occur in the family(I will not say the specifics). Mary may be responsible...but is Jennifer making her do it? The movie takes a number of turns toward the climax and closing credits. For years I was appalled by this movie, merely because I did not understand it. I last saw this film in 1998 on the late night movie and appreciated it even better for the slick direction and execution of the actors. It holds an intense atmosphere, because of its disguise as wonderland with Alice(Jennifer) lurking around in it. This is a well-done TV movie and should be watched if possible. Home video rental is nearly hopeless, with this film being out of production for more than a decade. Good luck.