Don't Go to Sleep

I've rated this movie higher than I would if it were theatrically released. One of the biggest problems with nearly every TV movie is pacing. Arranging the story so there is enough suspense to keep an audience through commercials tends to create awkward pacing, and this movie is no exception. But the movie has enough of a story to keep things moving forward. Direction is largely competent, except for a very poor opening credits sequence. Script is also acceptable. Characters are not especially likable, but in a story like this, that doesn't matter much.

There are two scenes that especially stuck in my memory as a child; the first being the frisbee scene. The second was the pizza cutter. Given the lack of real menace in the movie, the direction was surprisingly effective in making things creepy.

I only wish that made-for-TV productions kept this sort of sensibility.

Entirely worth tracking down for aficionados of early 80s horror.

One would never believe that a made-for-TV horror movie could be any good, but this one is a nice surprise. I didn't see this as a kid, and good thing because I would of never slept again! Creepy and weird! The one down side is that it kind of falls apart towards the end. It goes from being good to being a typical cheesy horror movie. But worth seeing all the same.

I recently heard about this movie and found a 'collector's copy' (read: bootleg) on e-bay(it's a made-for-tv film that was never released on video). To say this movie is scary, creepy and one of the best tv movies ever made is a complete understatement. After watching it, I was stunned and totally freaked out. Dennis Weaver and Valerie Harper are amazing as the parents of a little girl who keeps seeing the ghost of her dead sister, killed a year earlier in a mysterious accident (I guarantee you M. Night Shumaylan used this film as an inspiration for THE SIXTH SENSE). The scene where Weaver and Harper confront/attack each other over the death of their child is frightening and heartbreaking. That scene alone should have netted both of them an emmy, especially Harper. She's brilliant.

Frightening, eerie, creepy, and very ballsy for a tv movie from 1982 (produced by Aaron Spelling!). Current television MOW writers should hang their heads in shame when they compare the current disease-of-the-week drivel they churn out with this classic ghost story (written by actor Ned Wynn, son of actor Keenan Wynn). Whoever owns the rights to this (I'm assuming ABC) please get it out on DVD or else I'M gonna start bootlegging it! The public has GOT to get this!

I was quite young when I first saw this movie and it left a lasting impression on me to say the very least. Because of how young I was, I had a very difficult time remembering the title, but the movie itself stayed with me well into adulthood. I could only remember bits and pieces: a family of five gets into a car accident, the oldest sister does not survive, and a creepy scene with a pizza cutter running along the banister. That was about it but it was enough.

Finally, I found the title of this movie (Oddly enough by searching for "death by pizza cutter" as a joke on google.com) and couldn't believe after all this time I had found it!

Although this movie is obviously early 80's, the story, acting, and general creepiness has been able to withstand the test of time. Sure, there are moments of cheesiness, but that's a given for most horror/thriller movies and really only adds to the fun in watching one. I simply cannot believe this was a made for tv movie, and it's disgusting that few movies now can live up to a small flick from the 80's. There has been only one movie that was released relatively recently that came close to inspiring that same fear: Intensity.

Gore and violence is not really a part of this movie. It captivates through suggestion at times, and the building up of fear and through the playing of psychological games. Honestly, this movie was INCREDIBLE. If you have the chance, SEE IT! Try not to think in terms of modern filmmaking capabilities and rather see this movie for what it was and continues to be: a creepy, thrilling horror movie. I guarantee, once this movie gets you into its clutches, it will refuse to let go. Undoubtedly 10 out of 10 stars...an incredible rating for a MFTV movie...especially one from the 80's.

It's very interesting to watch a movie you saw as a pre-teen through adult eyes.

It's paced for the two hour time slot a made for TV movie must have, but it's still pretty solid.

It's one of the best TV movies in this genre. It holds up, still scary. So scary, in fact, it's a little hard to believe it IS a network movie.