It’s 1981 and the girls of Alpha Gamma Theta sorority are having a party. As the new pledges arrive, so does an uninvited guest. Little do the sisters know someone is watching them in the shadows. As the girls shower, study, eat and sleep the stalker studies the girls. One by one he finds the girls at their most vulnerable and murders them. The police hunt for the missing girls and their killer, but will they find them in time? Or will the girls be forced to fight for their lives…
As I read that synopsis on IMDB, I knew to myself that I had to find this movie, “The Sleeper”, and so I spent the next month of my life hunting down this homage to the 80’s slashers that I hold near and dear to my heart. As I received my dvd for “The Sleeper” from Amazon, I ripped off the shrink wrap and threw the dvd into my player. Would I be disappointed like I have been with so many other 80’s slasher homages (“Frat House Massacre” and “Psycho Sleepover”…I’m looking directly at you) or would this be the rare slasher homage that actually works and take us back to a more innocent time?
Well my dear slasher fans, “The Sleeper” is a hoot from beginning to end. The deaths are graphic and over-the-top in the best ways possible and the direction and screenplay by Justin Russell is pitch perfect. As I watched this film, a smile grew on my face. I saw the references to “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, “Slumber Party Massacre”, and “Black Christmas” and appreciated them more than I can possibly let on. This was made by someone who loves and cherishes the slasher genre and that heart and soul is in every frame of the film. Sure, the movie isn’t perfect. There are far too many characters and some of the acting is a bit flat, nonetheless, those same criticisms applied to even the best of the 80’s slasher films. Do yourself a favor and check out “The Sleeper”. If you enjoy horror homage at its finest, you will have a blast. I cannot wait to see what Justin Russell has planned for us slasher fans next.
To order from Amazon: The Sleeper
If you like 80’s slashers as much as I think you do, you will have a blast with this one. It isn’t perfect but it is a LOT of fun with some great deaths and some inventive cinematography. I believe it is getting a worldwide release later this year so keep an eye out for it!
Lucky lucky! http://redandsticky.blogspot.com/2012/02/sleep-tight-dont-let-him-bite-sleeper.html
While I enjoyed it I find it funny you say there are “too many characters” because one of the things that bothered me was that there is literally no one else on campus besides the characters. Like what college has no students?
It was a lot of fun though, especially the nods to continuity errors (whether intentional or not) such as the amount of snow (or complete lack thereof) on the ground sometimes in the same scene
I hope you like it kaijinu! I went in with low expectations and had a great time with it. This was the kind of movie where not everything worked but you gotta give the filmmakers credit for at least trying. That’s more than you can say about movies like “Paranormal Activity 3.”