Mean-spirited psychological thriller with an effective central performance and some tense scenes.

This isn't anywhere near as scary as [Rec] or To Let, but I actually appreciate Balagueró's readiness to use a more subdued, even reserved script. The villain in Sleep Tight is not a cold-blooded, fearless, superhumanly strong or sneaky psychopath, as one has come to expect from this type of thriller. The sense that he is a twisted, but "real person", often on the brink of miserable failure, makes his sinister exploits a lot more intriguing.

i haven't got the slightest clue why he did all of these things. i mean what's the point of showing the mother if you won't link her situation to the main matter. was it a red herring or a gap in scenario? who knows...

This terribly unsettling film shows again that true horror is not about showing gore, it's about psychology. During the film, you often wonder how bad a person can be... only to watch the boundaries broken again. Tosar is fantastic as the janitor and rightly collected a number of Spanish film awards, and he and director Balagueró are certainly worth following.

Balagueró is one of the most interesting up-and-coming horror directors working today. It hasn't led to another sleepless night, but I was definitely biting my nails in suspense at the wonderful natural interplay of events on screen, providing the film with an atmosphere so subtly overwhelming it was almost tangible. Too bad this isn't maintained in its misguided soap opera-ish 3rd act. Still worth seeking out for sense of dread is inspires, Tosar's performance and the sweet cinematography.