Sleep (Jam)

Sleep – split into three chapters – is about a couple Hyun-su (Lee Sun-kyun) and Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi) who are deeply, almost sillily in love expecting their first child.

They are incredibly happy until Hyun-su begins sleepwalking and then incessant face scratching at night that leaves him with a bloody cheek but no recollection of it. And as an actor it results in him being fired from his current job.

Seeking professional help the doctor (Yoon Kyung-ho) has some suggestions that don’t seem to help much. While his wife is researching on the internet which leads to the introduction of a shaman to help as they are now thinking there are supernatural powers at play. The baby is born, and the balance of terror begins to change.

Sleep is writer/director's Jason Yu feature debut and he has crafted an intriguing psychological thriller that towards the end turns full blown blood and horror. It's solid but doesn’t totally work as despite the good ideas at times its not that engaging and that’s mainly down to the characters, not the actors.

On the plus side Yu has an assured hand when it comes to building tension and the odd genuine scare. The atmosphere for the most part is unsettling especially at the beginning when Hyun-su is struggling to make sense of his condition. Its even vaguely comical as the couple try to find a solution to his problem.

However its as the family dynamic shifts between Hyun-su and Soo-jin when the baby is born and when the supernatural and mental health elements are fed in that Yu ramps up the intensity, getting some fine performances from both Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi.

Also the ending works well and could be open to a number of interpretations. I have my own theory though to say anything could be considered a spoiler.

All told it’s a film that should stimulate discussion and feels like it may reveal other facets with another watch, or two.

Sleep will open in UK cinemas on 12 July 2024.