Truly Dreadful Film

Perfect cast and a good story

Absolutely the worst movie.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Cesar (Luis Tosar) is the concierge/super for an apartment building. He seems like a normal helpful person, however under it all he is not a people person. At night he has chloroform sex with Clara, an unsuspecting tenant. He confesses his misdeeds to his mother, who is bed ridden, unable to speak, only cry. He is also being blackmailed by a young girl (Iris Almeida) who espies him coming out of Clara's room (Marta Etura).The film is not overly graphic and goes easy on the "perv" factor. You are drawn into the film to see how far Cesar will go to make everyone miserable. It is a well done production, unlike so many "B" films in this genre.The film lacks any real good "B" horror. At the same time it is a "B" movie subject. I would imagine the niche is narrow for a fan base in this slow moving tale.Parental Guide: F-bomb, brief sex, brief nudity.

A sick, twisted & nightmarish psychological horror pierced with undercurrents of black comedy, Sleep Tight (also known as Mientras duermes) is a brutal, intense & nail-biting example of its genre that's absolutely merciless with its content and only gets more unnerving as plot progresses.The story of Sleep Tight follows an apartment caretaker who deals with his own miserable existence by making others feel the same. His latest target is a cheerful resident whom he finds difficult to agitate when compared to others, which in turn compels him to go to extreme lengths to break her down mentally.Directed by Jaume Balaguero (best known for REC), the premise is simple & set up real quick and once the audience is let in on the events at play here, it becomes an utterly discomforting ride. Balaguero ratchet things up in a very methodical fashion, escalating the tension gradually to a point where it's almost tangible.The script doesn't delve deep into the character's psyche or background but that's not much of an issue, for its close proximity to real-life scenario is sufficient to keep the viewers invested in the story. The horror elements are effectively utilised while their visceral quality results in some truly nerve-wracking moments.A sense of uneasiness pervades the frames from start to finish and every little twist only amplifies its unsettling aura. Camerawork is excellent throughout, employing clever angles to deliver maximum impact. Its 102 minutes runtime is expertly paced & finely edited. And its brooding score & first-rate sound keep things on the edge at all times.Despite the lack of character depth, the actors play their part rather well and deliver compelling performances. Luis Tosar plays the concierge who takes great pleasure in torturing others and his quiet rendition & calm demeanour only contributes to the spiteful persona he brings to life. Marta Etura is no slouch in the role of the cheery resident and chips in with a strong act.On an overall scale, Sleep Tight is harrowing, unsparing & capable of unleashing worse nightmares than most horror flicks of today, all because of how messed up yet plausible its premise actually is. An emotionally devastating & soul-shattering ride that benefits greatly from Balaguero's sharp direction & Tosar's deranged act, Sleep Tight is an extremely underrated chiller that's worthy of a broader audience. Highly recommended.

A fan of the first Rec flicks,I was disappointed to find the franchise go completely off the rails for the final two in the series. Greatly enjoying the non-Rec Fragiles,I was surprised to find the BBC showing one of director Jaume Balagueró;s non-Rec titles,which led to me getting into bed.The plot: Left on his own in an apartment block, concierge César passes the time by slyly tormenting all the tenants. Welcoming beautiful new tenant Clara in, César soon starts playing mind games with her. Finding Clara to just brush off any attempt he makes to get under her skin, César decides to take things to the next level.View on the film:Slithering round the building, Luis Tosar gives an excellent,creepy performance as César, who is given a skin-crawling, covered in slime seediness by Tosar,which makes everything César says be something that can't be taken at face value. Innocently laying in her bed, sexy Marta Etura gives a very good performance as Clara, whose sunny side up attitude is gradually dimmed in doubt by Etura.Leaving the shock & awe of the Recs,director Jaume Balagueró & Rec actor/cinematographer Pablo Rosso go for a slow-burn,sinister atmosphere,as the apartment block is given a blank surface appearance. Sneaking César into Clara's life, Balagueró builds up the anxiety with stylish two-shots,where the viewer can see César,but Clara can't. Holding back from Psycho-Thriller shocks, the screenplay by Alberto Marini finds horror in the mundane,where everything appears normal, but Marini has César subtly chip away at Clara in the background. Whilst the ending unlocks a macabre apartment, it also sadly highlights the large plot holes (such as no CCTV or Clara feeling any different) jumped over for it to be delivered,as Clara sleeps tightly next to César.

I like Jaume Balagueró films and this does nothing to change that.Slow moving, climatically downbeat Spanish thriller that gradually gets under your skin. All you can do is sit helplessly but enthralled at the despicable events unfolding in front of you.Good central performance from Luis Tosar whose character is a real twisted bastard. Some flaws in the plot but quite a bit of suspense. A good film that lingers in the mind after it's finished.