Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Sleepless Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 8, 2020

Director Dario Argento tried to expand his career throughout the 1990s, inching away from his giallo productions to challenge himself and alter his reputation. The experiment didn’t exactly work, and while some interesting endeavors were born during this decade, the Argento of old was back in business for 2001’s “Sleepless,” which returns the helmer to the business of black-gloved killers, eye-crossing mysteries, and plenty of gory events. “Sleepless” also delivers an unusually stately leading actor in Max Von Sydow, who classes up the joint with his usual professionalism and interest in character, giving the feature something extra while Argento sweats to fill an excessive run time.

In 1983, a series of murders rocked the Italian town of Turin, with Detective Moretti (Max Von Sydow) promising young Giacomo (Stefano Dionisi) he will solve the crimes. Years later, death is revisiting Turin, but Moretti is an older, retired man, dealing with heart issues and early Alzheimer’s. Learning of the new horrors in the area and how they connect to ones from the past, Moretti returns to follow the leads, reunited with Giacomo, who’s a troubled young man still looking for closure after his mother was brutally slaughtered by a masked killer long ago.

“Sleepless” starts with a bang, detailing a prostitute’s desperate mission to escape Turin after encountering the rise of the murderer. She boards a train for safe passage, only to learn her trip is doomed, soon scrambling to find a hiding spot as a gloved killer hunts for her. It’s a fine introduction to the movie, even if the specifics have very little to do with the story, acting as more of an attention-grabber, with Argento pumping up his stylistics, screen fetishes, and fondness for Goblin, with the band providing a driving score. Indeed, “Sleepless” plays like a greatest hits tour during its first act, reuniting Argento with previous collaborators, while violence has a special snap to it, finding special effects from Sergio Stivaletti fantastic, creating vivid moments of bodily harm.

Once the train sequence and assorted post-trip mayhem have passed, “Sleepless” must deal with a story, and it’s not an especially gripping one. There’s something there with Moretti, who’s an aging man dealing with memory loss, pulled back into a cold case he failed to solve long ago, giving him renewed purpose. Von Sydow brings focus to the movie, delivering a strong performance of habitual gravitas, giving Argento personality to manage while the screenplay figures out what’s going on with the Turin bloodbath. Giancomo is also explored, with the young man threatening to unravel due to his traumatic childhood, finding comfort with harpist Gloria (Chiara Caselli). Characterization is acceptable, along with the horror show, offering the helmer multiple chances to arrange the death of innocents, working out his giallo reflexes. It’s the core whodunit that’s not strong enough, as “Sleepless” doesn’t build to reveals, it simply gets around to them, lacking economical storytelling to really elevate suspense.

Sleepless Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a fresh look at "Sleepless," which is a film that's heavy with all sorts of textures. There's encouraging sharpness throughout, offering the feel of thick fabrics and facial surfaces, and makeup effect are appreciable, with gore zone visits open for pauseable inspection. Locations are dimensional, surveying Turin neighborhoods and city activity. Interiors are just a defined, identifying decoration and expanse, with a mid-movie visit to a theater providing a vivid sense of space. Color is managed well, exploring stylish blasts of lighting and deep red blood. Fashion sense delivers bright primaries. Skintones are natural. Delineation is comfortable, never losing frame information. Source is in decent condition, with a few scratches, some speckling, and the occasional chemical blotch.

Sleepless Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Scorpion Releasing offers a brief note on the "Sleepless" Blu-ray concerning issues discovered while putting together the 5.1 DTS-HD MA English track, which is "not perfectly aligned," leading to a few sync issues. The 5.1 DTS-HD MA Italian mix is the default selection, and remains the preferred listening event, providing a more balanced, sharper representation of the movie's aural highlights. While dubbing is pronounced, performances are appreciable, protecting the procedural moments of the feature and its occasional moments of panic. Scoring offers defined instrumentation, with strong rock beats and synth offerings. Surrounds push out music and handle atmospherics, supplying a circular feel for weather changes and sound effects. While the English track is flawed, offering a harsher sound, it does have Von Sydow's natural voice, which is sorely missed from the Italian mix.

Sleepless Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians Nathaniel Thompson and Troy Howarth.

• "He Never Sleeps" (18:30, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Dario Argento, who describes the state of his career in 2000, making a return to giallo entertainment after time away from his "specialty." An explanation for the title is offered, pulled from Son of Sam writings, and Argento explores his collaboration on the screenplay, enjoying his time cooking up a crime story. Turin locations are highlighted, with the filmmaker eager to showcase the city's inherent beauty and hidden suburbia. An overview of the opening sequence is provided (short BTS footage is included), with Argento hoping to begin "Sleepless" with a proper bang. Casting achievements are highlighted, and the interviewee goes into his special relationship with Max Von Sydow, who enjoyed his time on-set so much, he personally pitched a sequel. Style choices are examined, included the "carpet kill," and the dangers of production are recalled during a scene where a woman is drowned. Argento closes with an assessment of "Sleepless" (he doesn't seem too thrilled with the effort), his return to the music of Goblin, and his thematic intent with the work, reviving an obsession with puzzling ways of memories.

• "Don't Go to Sleep" (17:05, HD) is a conversation with actor Paolo Maria Scalondro, who was hired at the last minute for "Sleepless." The interviewee describes his process to create a character and his impressions of Argento's on-set behavior, admitting the helmer has quite a temper when actors aren't listening to him. Co-stars are assessed, and love is shared for Max Von Sydow, who became a friend. Scalondro shares his impressions of Turin and his bodily response to night shooting, Crew interactions are offered, along with technical challenges for his climatic scene. Scalondro also recalls the movie's critical reception, and provides his own reaction to "Sleepless," admitting the picture doesn't have much to offer after its opening scene.

• "The Cop and the Parrot" (11:10, HD) sits down with co-writer Franco Ferrini, who recounts his time working with Argento, finding inspiration for "Sleepless" in mystery books. Ferrini shares his knowledge of Argento's influences and identifies contributions from writer Carlo Lucarelli, who added some police procedure to the endeavor. Analysis of the opening scene is shared, and character additions from Max Von Sydow are revealed, with the legendary actor putting some thought into his character's world of solitude and pet ownership.

• "Blood on the Tracks" (15:47, HD) focuses on production designer Antonello Geleng, who discusses technical challenges on "Sleepless," and the production's use of Turin. Geleng offers an assessment of Argento and his own collaborations with the director, ultimately admitting he doesn't even really like horror movies to begin with.

• "Killed Three Times" (12:32, HD) sits down with actor Gabriele Lavia, who details his long history with Argento, dating back to a supporting role in "Deep Red." Some excellent timing also won him a part in "Inferno," with "Sleepless" his third collaboration with the director, gifting him time with Max Von Sydow. Lavia closes with an appreciation for cinema.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Sleepless Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When "Sleepless" has Argento alert and ready to play to his strengths, it delivers memorable sequences and directorial flair. There's just not enough kinetic energy to the picture, which does well with casting and character, and the occasional freak-out, but doesn't have a shot at sustaining its insanity for nearly two hours of screen time. The movie simply runs out of gas by the third act, becoming a feature that's better with select ideas than an entire offering of giallo hellraising.