JP Nunez
Dreams are fascinating. They’re like other worlds we get to visit for a few hours every night, so it’s no surprise that filmmakers have been capitalizing on the storytelling potential of these nocturnal fantasies for decades. Some of the best horror movies of all time revolve around these mysterious phenomena, and when I first heard about Somnium, I thought it had the potential to be another sleep-centric banger. It promised to turn our dreams into terrifying nightmares, and I couldn’t wait to see what dark chills it had in store.
Somnium was written and directed by Racheal Cain, and it stars Chloë Levine, Will Peltz, Peter Vack, Clarissa Thibeaux, Johnathon Schaech, and Gillian White. In the film, Gemma is a small-town girl from Georgia who dreams of being an actress, so naturally, she moves out to LA to pursue her passion. While waiting for her big break, she has to make ends meet, and luckily for her, an experimental sleep clinic called Somnium is now hiring.
The place needs someone to watch the patients overnight, and since Gemma used to work nights at her family’s diner, she accepts the position. At first, the job seems fairly innocuous, but it soon becomes clear that something isn’t quite right here. Around the same time, a veteran movie producer promises to show Gemma around town and introduce her to people who can help her get ahead, and since this is Hollywood, the guy’s intentions are more than a little suspect.
When Gemma first walks into Somnium and asks what they do there, the doctor who runs the place tells her that they “make dreams come true,” and at its core, that’s what this film is all about. It’s the heart of Gemma’s story in more ways than one, and it’s even a pretty good description of the movie’s aesthetics.
For example, the score has an airy, almost otherworldly quality to it, so every time that music hits, you can’t help but feel like you’re in a dream yourself. Along similar lines, there are numerous times when writer/director Racheal Cain fills the screen with various kinds of colored lighting, and those unnatural hues greatly increase the film’s somnial vibe.
On a deeper level, the clinic’s promise to “make dreams come true” also reveals the main theme of Somnium. Like many horror movies, this one essentially breaks down into two halves. There’s the fantastical story revolving around this experimental sleep clinic, and there’s the more down-to-earth side that follows Gemma’s quest for stardom.
Being an actress is her dream, so Somnium isn’t just a stepping stone to her real aspirations. It’s also a metaphor. It represents Hollywood, and the shady goings-on there represent the various ways the Hollywood system makes it difficult for would-be actors to achieve their dreams.
It’s a clever way to tell a story we’ve seen a million times before, but unfortunately, the execution ends up being a bit of a mixed bag. Let’s start with the good. Hands down, one of the best things about Somnium is the acting. This entire cast does excellent work, but as is often the case, there’s a clear standout here.
Chloë Levine plays Gemma, and she’s fantastic in the role. Right from the get-go, she has a sweet and authentic girl-next-door kind of vibe, so you can’t help but root for her to succeed. You’re right there with her as she experiences all the ups and downs of searching for her big break, and that emotional connection gives the story a solid foundation to build on.
What’s more, Somnium also has some really cool horror. In particular, there’s a monster that Gemma sees every once in a while, and this thing is terrifying. It’s very reminiscent of the vampire in Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass and Dracula in the recent The Last Voyage of the Demeter, just without the wings, and its movements call to mind modern zombie movies like 28 Days Later and Zombieland.
On the flip side, Somnium struggles quite a bit with its story. As I said before, this narrative essentially breaks down into two halves, and they’re both fairly undercooked. For instance, the Hollywood producer Gemma hangs out with eventually just fades away without making much of an impact on the woman’s life, so that whole subplot goes absolutely nowhere.
Similarly, as great as the monster is, it ends up feeling more like a decoy than a legitimate threat. I’m obviously not going to tell you what’s really going on here, but suffice it to say that the truth behind this place isn’t nearly as shocking as you might suspect. It’s actually a bit underwhelming, so you should definitely temper your expectations.
In fact, that’s good advice for Somnium as a whole. The setup will draw you in almost immediately, so you’ll be chomping at the bit to find out what’s really going on with both the sleep clinic and the Hollywood producer. Unfortunately, though, the payoff doesn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
It’ll leave you a bit disappointed, but for my money, it’s not quite bad enough to tank the entire experience. On the whole, the dream-like feel, the cool monster, the likable lead character, and the clever thematic allegory make this a fun ride despite the way it all turns out, so if you get a chance to see Somnium at some point in the future, I recommend giving it a shot. Just don’t expect it to stick the landing completely, and you’ll be fine.
Somnium played at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival on October 23. Also, check out Sean Parker’s interview with Racheal Cain and Chloë Levine.
