Setting a horror movie at a sleep clinic seems pretty rife for freaky situations. Look no further than 2021’s Come True, a horrifying meditation on sleep paralysis whose images have still not left my brain after several years. Somnium, written, directed, and produced by Racheal Cain, takes a different approach, opting for a character study of a struggling actress doing whatever she can to get by. The eeriness and freaky visuals remain classy and reserved throughout, whilst the focus of our lead character’s point of view never falters. Unnerving and engaging, Somnium leaves haunting takeaways about success and overcoming one’s own demons folded within its atmospheric dream realm.
Gemma (Chloe Levine) only has just over two hundred dollars to her name, having relocated to California in the hopes of pursuing an acting career. In her first proper scenes, a montage treats us to Gemma’s journey hopping from talent agency to casting studios, all of which turn her down with a simple shaking of the head. Desperate to make money to keep a roof over her head, Gemma spots a “NOW HIRING” sign at a shady-looking clinic called Somnium. At Somnium, Doctor Shaffer (Gillian White) vows to “make dreams come true.” Levine plays Gemma with a casual naiveté, but Gemma’s reserved nature could be a detriment if she stays serious about snagging a film or television project.
Almost immediately, Doctor Shaffer hires Gemma, warning her about the long hours and overnight shifts. Gemma will act as a “sleep sitter,” simply making sure their clients are soundly sleeping, and that all doors and exits will remain locked. Lead dream designer, the nerdy Noah (Will Peltz), shows Gemma the ropes, going into detail about exactly what they do here at Somnium. Wealthy clients pay the team to give them specific dreams that will manifest into a new reality. In other words, they program ideas and beliefs, then feed them to the client while they sleep. It almost sounds like a weird form of brainwashing, only swirling with positive reinforcement, and cherry-picked by the user. At least Gemma can still go to auditions on the side.
As she begins work at the clinic, Gemma’s memories of her romantic relationship with ex-boyfriend Hunter (Peter Vack) bleeds into her day to day. There are so many unresolved feelings between the two, and Somnium allows us to learn more about their story as the film unfolds. Hunter remains a constant presence throughout, as does Noah; the addition of a third male character, Brooks (Johnathon Schaech), may cause concern. Brooks claims to see something special within Gemma. Perhaps that X factor? There may be more going on at Somnium than initially appears—cinematographer Lance Kuhns lingers just long enough on concerning elements at the clinic to warrant suspicion. The overall look impresses too, bathing its creature in shadow and only sparingly hinting at what it may actually be. The most impressive sequence takes place inside a dream, as the first person horror visuals and blurred faces threaten to create true nightmares in those who watch.
Echoes of movies like X, Disturbing Behavior, and Nightmare on Elm Street seep through, but this remains Gemma’s film through and through, a distinct flavor all its own. The effectiveness of her story only works so well thanks to Chloe Levine’s vulnerable performance. As Gemma’s desperation for making a splash in Hollywood reaches a thunderous exclamation mark, the complexities of her viewpoint make Somnium feel special. How far would one go for fame, and will the end result be worth it? There are a few elements that do not quite click into place, but overall, Somnium may be a dreamy indie delight for casual genre fans.
Somnium dreamed up its debut at 2024’s Chattanooga Film Festival.
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