Arlene wakes up in the forest alone with scratches and bruises on her legs, blood on her hands and the body of a young woman beside her. The night before was a blur. The nights frequently are for Arlene. This is due to the strange circumstances of her existence. Arlene lives a solitary life, frequently sleepwalks outside at night, and is tormented by her mother's mysterious murder. Arlene becomes obsessed with the dead girl and fearful that she had something to do with her demise. With less sleep than before and stressed beyond belief, Arlene gets careless. She often walks home alone at night, befriends the victim's boyfriend who is a suspect in the case, daydreams about the murder while using sharp machinery at her factory job, starts taking pills, accepts rides from strange men, and continues sleepwalking. Arlene is practically asking to get killed in multiple ways.
This moody, slow-burning thriller is more of an emotional journey than something typical of the genre. There is little dialogue, action, or gore. Images are dreamy, haunting, and resplendent. Rebecca Daly's debut feature is loosely based on the true story of a young woman who disappeared in her hometown. Some may be displeased with the new actors and director, but for me it makes the story more authentic, captivating, and real. I hate it when films follow the same boring formula. The Other Side of Sleep gambles on being different and thereby succeeds. Arlene's character is empathetic and remarkably genuine, which adds to the vibrancy of the story.
