Film Review: Don't Fall Asleep by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Don’t Fall Asleep

Horror, short

Release date: September 5, 2016 (USA)

Company: 3 Count & Go Films

Directed by: Paige Troxell

Produced by: Michelle DiCeglio as producer, Kim Gunzinger as executive producer, Diandra Lazor as producer, Dakota Thomas as associate producer (credited as Dakota A. Thomas), Paige Troxell as producer

Starring: Diandra Lazor, Chad Hewitt, Colleen Dunne, Travis Horseman and Casey May

Don’t Fall Asleep is a fan-made film that takes place on the aftermath of the original Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and before A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987).

The black and white color palette for the start sets the melancholic atmosphere as the music (made by Lito Velasco) acts as a fitting complement. Afterwards, the colors palette is switched back to standard colors and held like that for the rest of the film.

The human nature of “I don’t believe unless I see it” is one of the pivotal points of the movie.

Usually we’re all accustomed to not believe in the “supernatural” phenomena, like ghosts, demons, spirits,etc and tend to disregard it, however what if those -within the movie universe- are indeed real and it’s seen on many movies like The Ring, Case 39 and many others where the reality & the unreal mix, breaking the thin ice boundary. That is the situation that each of these movies makes us consider.

The character development is gradual, doesn’t feel forced, the struggle between sanity & insanity is well accomplished acting wise but to me what really complements it majestically is the music, exquisitely composed with the lighting.

There were a couple of scenes that were quite dark like the group meeting scene and sometimes we can barely tell what’s happening due to the sheer speed of what happens, however the environment & the rest of elements really do fit in the theme with the atmosphere making it a coherent solid mix.

The ethereal plane of dreaming is a wonderful theme to explore and I feel it never will get old since it appeals to the most vulnerable spot for all of us. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral