Sleepstalker

As a young boy, Griffin Davis' (Jay Underwood) parents were killed by an infamous serial-murderer known as The Sandman (Michael Harris), who is subsequently apprehended by police. 17 years later, The Sandman is executed, and Griffin believes the nightmare is finally over.

Unfortunately, at the eleventh hour, with the help of a mysterious preacher (Michael D. Roberts), The Sandman is transformed into the SLEEPSTALKER. Now, Griffin must face his greatest fear.

This supernatural horror film has a semi-interesting premise that is mostly undermined by its nonexistent budget and hit-and-miss acting. Also, the antagonist just isn't all that terrifying. He's far more cheeeze than sand, making this a rather dull affair.

However, it's nice to see the great Ken Foree in anything, even this...

'Sleepstalker' is the rare exception to the oft reiterated internet theorem that most low-budget 90s horrors were pony, as, for me at least, this modestly marvellous DTV doozie rocked a little less timorously than you might have originally thought!! Turi Meyer's mythically menacing 'Sleepstalker' (1995) also features beloved horror icon Ken Foree as Stoic Detective Rolands!!!! Hellz yeah, dude!!!! While ultimately it's a cheap and skeevey 'Shocker' knock-off, it's got a deliciously dusted, hoodoo-voodoo terror-twist in the tale! Right on!!!! 'Sandman's coming to dust more than your phooken eyes, baby!' And, ohhhh!!! Yeah!!! The deliciously rudimentary CGI scene is a legit double-take gasser!! While 'Sleepstalker' is the frequently forgotten fright-flick that can usually be found on a budget DVD collection with 3 other wholly unrelated, infinitely more grot-laden titles, its ignominious relegation to the B-Horror 'dust' bin of DVD doom is not entirely justified!

I have only seen SLEEPSTALKER twice: and that was on cable.

I saw it first in 1997 and then recently this year (2001).

The thing in this movie that is really scary is the sad, mournful lullabye "Sleep baby, sleep...down where the woodbines creep...be always like the lamb, so mild and kind and sweet...sleep baby, sleep." TOO HYPNOTICALLY SCARY!! Woodbine is a plant that is remotely associated with the Grim Reaper (Death)

The whole premise of a convicted killer offering his soul to satan in exchange for immortality is nothing new to the horror movie genre...but the dialogue and special effects were pretty pitiful.

The similarity between the Sandman and Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) is that both of these "nightime nightmare boogeymonsters" had rotten childhoods wraught with child abuse, and grow up to be killers... Hmmmm...interesting concept. I give this one a five out of ten.

At first glance this looks like a complete rip off of the far superior "Dust Devil" (check out the opening credits). The characters are laughably wafer thin - especially the Hispanic gang banger. But fair play the guy who plays the evil priest hams it up to superb effect (the funniest thing about this movie). I can't believe I actually sat through this and I can honestly say as a long time horror movie fan, there is nothing to report here. Zero suspense and about as scary as a big fluffy bunny!

Although the movie reminded me of the "Freddy" films and the movie "Dust Devil," It had enough creepy moments to make it a worthwhile viewing. A repeated flashback/dream sequence was exceptionally disturbing and the Sandman's Lullaby was really chilling. Also, the ending was unexpected. Some thought and creativity went onto the Special Effects and for once the killer was underplayed.