Review of The Sleeper (2012) by Luciano G — 17 Jul 2012

I'll admit that I love this movie, that I've watched it several times, and its atmospheric, wintry creepiness is quiet and tangible. I understand and appreciate the efforts of all those involved, and I wouldn't trade in my DVD for anything... BUT (sigh...).

One thing bothering me is that no matter how often I've seen it, I can't attribute any particular murder-- and there were plenty-- as being outstanding or haunting. The very first killing is absolutely pointless, hackneyed, and an insignificant waste. The film-maker was aiming for a "Black Christmas' homage, one in which the killer's identity and motives are never revealed. This worked for Black Christmas since the killer was merely a catalyst, a shadow, a boogeyman-- the girls themselves, along with the suspense of their impending fate, were the heart of the story. But in 'The Sleeper,' we see the killer throughout, and he is sadly without merit or substance-- only cataracts. The writer should have either elaborated his motive or kept him hidden in the shadows, like in the original 'Halloween,' to serve as a symbol for the possibilities of the Unknown.

Regardless- I still freakin' love this movie. Justin Russell's passion for the early '80's slasher is spot-on and sincere-- the textures, the synthesizer-music, the side-of-the-head pony tails. I loved the suggestive relationship between Ava and Laura, and I couldn't help but love the dance sequence. And I loved Amy, and while she managed to save herself in the end (with enough help from Detective McHandsome) in what was a rather ho-hum cat-and-mouse climax, I'm glad that Russell didn't mutate her into another hardcore bad-ass Jessica Biel amazon type-- she was scared, innocent, and a very relatable person, possibly due to her minimal characterization, but it's admirable that Russell stayed true to her character. I hope his career will be a full and productive one. I will certainly wait in line for his next project, whatever that may be.