Somnium

Worth a view once as it IS problematic but not without merits. My main concerns with this film may seem a little petty lol but they are two key points I felt that removed me from the viewing experience. First off, the lead. While doing an overall decent job with the role, the one thing I couldn't get over (and this is the case with a lot of b-movie roles in general) was the accent, or lack thereove. Either commit or don't commit lol. She started off (allegedly being from Georgia) with this slight southern draw which works at the beginning because when she uses phrases like "y'all" you can see the cringe factor on the LA crowds' faces. But then it just disappears, completely and without warning. It happens tume and time again in movies like this and with roles like this. She *IS* an "aspiring actor" recently yransplanted in LA, but if that were the case IRL she would only be turning it off during auditions, etc, not in her daily life, not that quickly. Trivial? Yes. A pet peeve? Obviously.

Aside from that, the use of the particular compound cocktail in the Somnium facility completely detracted from yhe experience IMO. I have mixed feelings because anyone familiar with this cocktail knows full well that's not how it works and thise are not the effects it produces. For this reason maybe it should have been left a mystery or have been some fictional, experimental drug. However, as an allegory as to the transformative nature of this compound, yes, it works in that way if that was the writer's intent. Otherwise it comes off as a quick attempt at cashing in on current media buzzword.

Aside from those two points, there are glaring problems with the production which I won't get into here as it is impossible without revealing spoilers.

Overall however it is a weekend afternoon popcorn picture that is not at all the worst possible choice. I didn't regret seeing it, but it's nothing I will watch again. Very forgettable, in fact I'm only writing this review because I can see myself in a year or two being attracted by the cover art & premise and wondering if I should watch it again and my advice to future self: you've seen it, the low to mid rating is there for the reasons outlined above and more. Nothing to see here, move along....

Overall I really enjoyed this film. Focused on a woman from a tiny town wanting to make it as an actor in the big city, but focus on film his her part time work at a clinic where they use a dream state to heal people.

Lead actress was very good, and the story didn't have a Hollywood feel but instead seemed to evolve organically. In this way, it was never boring or predictable. Didn't focus just on scifi/horror element, but also this girl's feeling of isolation and struggle. Also had some interesting relationship arcs though they weren't really fulfilled or concluded.

I get the point of the ending, and it is one of these ones that u can still wonder what is real or not real, but I think, despite being somewhat satisfying, the ending was less interesting than the rest of the film. All the same, I recommend this film to watch, and indeed an surprised doesn't get a higher rating. Won't stay with you, but is a good film and did deserve awards it got.

This was a film that I got the chance to see via screener thanks to Justin Cook. Now I almost passed because this isn't listed as horror on the Internet Movie Database. It is on the Letterboxd. That was good enough. The title looked interesting. I saw that this is a sci-fi film, which I'm a fan of. I also like the lead actor, Chloë Levine. Other than that, what I've given here, I came in blind.

Synopsis: at an experimental sleep clinic, Somnium, dreams are made real. Side effects may include hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, sleep paralysis, detachment from reality, lost sense of self or permanent nightmares.

This film doesn't waste any time getting into it. We meet our lead, Gemma (Levine), in her new apartment. She's moved to Los Angeles from Georgia, hoping to make it as an actor. We see that she has limited money. Her father did get her a return ticket if she changed her mind. We see her hiding this in the cupboard.

Then from here she goes around to different businesses, seeing if they have openings or if she can drop off her resume. She is discouraged and gets spooked when she hears something moving in a dumpster. That's when she notices Somnium. They have a sign up about hiring. She goes inside to inquire and it is here she meets Olivia (Clarissa Thibeaux). She informs Gemma that the doctor who runs the clinic is busy, but if she leaves her information, she'll pass it along. Dr. Katherine Shaffer (Gillian White) overhears and has time so she meets with her.

The doctor gets to know Gemma and offers her to do a trial shift the following week. She agrees. We also see her get her first audition. It looks like she killed it, but the casting team didn't necessarily give her the glowing review she was hoping for. Gemma is also lonely. We see her reading her diary, reminiscing about her boyfriend from back home. His name is Hunter (Peter Vack).

Gemma comes to Somnium for her shift and is shown the ropes by Noah (Will Peltz). He is an odd guy who takes a liking to her. She enjoys the conversation. We also see her trying to seek out Olivia at a local arcade near work, but she's not there. This does lead her to meeting a Hollywood executive, Brooks (Johnathon Schaech). He sees something in her and wants her to give him a call if she wants his help to make it in the industry.

It is from here that she starts to work over nights at Somnium. Sometimes Noah is there and they get along. There is something off about him while he also can be charming. Gemma also sees this odd creature. It is tall, slender and hairless. She sees it at work and she believes it is lurking at home. Things aren't as they seem and the longer that Gemma is in LA, the deeper into depression she sinks. Part of it is being lonely, missing her friends and family, as well as struggling to break into a nearly impossible industry. As desperation grows, Gemma is faced with difficult choices.

That is where I'll leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Where I want to start would be whether this is a horror film. In general, I'd say no. There are elements so I'd consider it to be adjacent. Gemma is seeing this creature. With things that we see and hear, we're assuming that she was seeing it before working at Somnium. The explanation there is fine, it's just something we've seen before. There are also elements that we get with the experiments that are being done at Somnium with the implications that come from it.

Now that I've set that up, since this is a character study of Gemma. The narrative follows her struggles in LA, utilizing diary flashbacks to reveal her character development. We see her past happiness with her high school boyfriend, contrasting with her current spiraling life, a result of their relationship souring. This evokes a relatable feeling of wanting to give up, yet she remains stubbornly determined. We also see that things aren't necessarily great back home, mirroring her current situation. Levine skillfully brings this character to life.

Let's then look at where she works, Somnium. What I like here is that this brings in sci-fi elements without making it too unbelievable. The best way to describe it is like a subdued Total Recall. They put their subjects to sleep, then they'll display images of what they want to succeed. They wouldn't have it, since they can't fully change reality. What this does though is reinforce their determination to help build confidence. Noah creates what they see with AI, which makes sense. There is also a darker element with a similar program, 'Cloud 9'.

I'll then just briefly describe this alternative. This is a program where people will be brought in whether they're in a coma, dying or having issues where they're detached from reality. This helps bring them down by showing them certain things. We don't see much of this until the climax. I might also be misinterpreting it as well. It is here we see Olivia and Noah butt heads on the ethics of what they're doing.

Now there is one last aspect of the story to explore. Gemma's creature gains strength with her growing depression, fueled by audition rejections and a desperate party decision. This familiar "struggle to stardom" narrative feels generic. It looks creepy, so I'll give credit there. How they brought it to life was good. This just doesn't do enough to set itself apart.

That should be enough for the story so let's then finish out with the filmmaking aspects. The film is well-shot, effectively using lighting to reflect Gemma's journey from a bright beginning to hardship. Framing and dark scenes with unseen sounds build tension, despite limited effects. The Somnium experiment's electrical visuals are a good touch, and the soundtrack and sound design are fitting.

All that is left then is acting performances. I've already said that Levine was good. She doesn't fit the typical Hollywood type, which she is hoping for works in her favor. It makes her stand out. Peltz is good, as I said, as this guy who is charming, with a creepy side. Vack works as this person who hardened Gemma's resolve, but there's also the familiarity that feels safe despite their issues. Grace Van Dien, Thibeaux, White, Schaech and Draya Michele help to round out the rest of the cast.

In conclusion, this offers a unique blend of sci-fi and character study, exploring the psychological toll of ambition and isolation through Gemma's journey. While it touches on horror elements and features a well-realized creature, its impact is somewhat diluted by familiar tropes. The film benefits from strong performances, particularly from Levine, and effective filmmaking techniques that enhance the narrative's emotional depth. Despite its minor shortcomings, Somnium remains a compelling watch that delves into the darker side of chasing dreams.

My Rating: 7 out of 10.

A very solid film d'auteur where everything works in conjunction very well. It's not groundbreaking and it does have some minor plot holes, but as a whole, it's a film well worth your time.

Unfortunately, the story starts to show some cracks during the third act, which was only evident because of how invested I was from the start of the film. I also really liked the main lead's acting, she did a great job in a very particular role.

This movie simply does not know what it wants to be. Is it a coming out of age story? Is it a drama movie? Is it a horror movie? I doubt that the people who made it even know. The storytelling is incoherent. The main character is an idiot. Hell, even the twist was so obvious before it happened. Just save your money and time and watch Instagram Reels instead of this piece of trash.