10 Hidden Gem Indie Horror Movies You MUST Watch
4. Sleep
The Korean thriller revolves around two newlyweds, Soo-jin and Hyun-soo, who are eager to begin the next chapter in their lives. However, Soo-jin becomes concerned when her husband begins to sleepwalk. When Hyun-soo starts committing self-harm and uttering cryptic phrases like "Someone's inside" while sleepwalking, Soo-jin becomes terrified her partner will hurt her or their baby.
You couldn't tell Sleep was helmed by a first-time director, since Jason Yu is masterful in his direction, confidently using shadows, silence, and domestic spaces to evoke dread.
The screenplay is tight and layered, subtly exploring themes of trust, mental health, and parental insecurities without losing sight of the horror elements. There's a great use of close-ups of Soo-jin as the story progresses, heightening her increasing paranoia and sense of claustrophobia.
In a genre saturated with formula, Sleep offers something refreshingly original and emotionally complex. Not only does the mystery drama presents a terrifying story in its own right, it demonstrates how the purest love can be tested, especially when confronted with the unknown.
Despite what the title implies, Sleep may be responsible for many restless nights for viewers.