Sleep No More is the title of the director’s cut of 2014’s Phantom Halo. Written by Antonia Bogdanovich and Anne Heffron, the film marked Bogdanovich’s directorial debut. Reviews were mixed as the crime thriller was a New York Times Critic’s Pick, while others awarded the film middling reviews. For its 10th anniversary, the director reworked it into the version she always envisioned.
Warren (Sebastian Roché) loves money, alcohol, and gambling, not necessarily in that order. Noticeably missing from that list are his two sons, 20-something Beckett (Luke Kleintank) and teenage Samuel (Thomas Brodie-Sangster). Warren, a once-famed Shakespearean actor, uses his children as a means for money. Instead of being in school, Sam recites Shakespeare monologues for passersby while Beckett picks their pockets. The only joy Sam has is his favorite comic book hero, Phantom Halo, though his father forbids any such “distractions” in the house.
One day, Beckett happens to run into a high school friend named Larry (Jordan Dunn). Larry, a tech whiz, runs a scheme by Beckett that promises easy money… and a lot of it. His friend’s timing couldn’t have been better since the unscrupulous Roman (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is demanding that Beckett or Sam pay him back for Warren’s sizable debt. But, there’s no such thing as easy money, is there?
Sleep No More is an engaging thriller, although a few story beats don’t add up. On his birthday, Sam doesn’t want to slice the cake until their mom shows back up. If this scene was a flashback, how it was filmed or presented did not make that obvious. If it is happening now, it seems odd that it would take Sam six years to learn the truth. It’s odd and doesn’t add much in the way of plot or character development. The narrative also treads tropes, meaning that all watches will be ahead of certain parts. This extends to the characters, as precisely who Roman is, big baddie aside, remains unclear throughout. Tobin Bell’s character of Smashmouth is equally just a vague villain of some kind.
“…Roman is demanding that Beckett or Sam pay him back for Warren’s sizable debt.”
With that said, the film has a lot going for it. For starters, the cast is exemplary. Roché is great as the hard-nosed addict who, on occasion, lets vulnerability slip in. Kleintank showcases determination and sweetness well, especially in his scenes with Rebecca Romijn as Miss Ross. Brodie-Sangster sells the frustration and heartbreak his character constantly feels. His recitations of Shakespeare are tremendous and show off the actor’s range nicely. Romijn is sultry and enticing in all the right ways, while Bell makes a big impression with his underwritten part. Akinnagbe turns his one-note role into a menacing and memorable presence as he comes off as murderous.
Another great element of Sleep No More is the music. Composer Jason Lazarus emphasizes the family in his compositions, which dramatically aids in that impressively realized dynamic. But the music lets loose when needed, especially during a fun buying spree montage involving Beckett and Larry. The score makes the film feel bigger than the indie production would otherwise.
Finally, the pacing is on point. While a few things are rushed, such as Roman’s introduction, no scene goes on too long or serves no purpose. Each moment builds on what just happened, building to the epic conclusion. There is no fat here, yet the central trio of Warren, Beckett, and Sam have entire arcs and storylines that all get paid off. The exception to this is the aforementioned birthday scene, which is brief, so it doesn’t feel like filler; it is just awkward, that’s all.
Sleep No More may not be flawless, but it is a solid and entertaining watch. The pacing is mostly excellent as things move so fast audiences barely have time to breathe. The cast is phenomenal and makes even underwritten parts feel whole. Overall, this is a good film that fans of Killing Them Softly will gravitate towards.
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"…a solid and entertaining watch."
