Sleepwalking is a scary reality. One hears Horror stories of frequent sleepwalkers waking up in the middle of their yard or in the woods, not knowing how they got there. In some cases, people have really hurt themselves by sleepwalking. Though it may not seem believable, another idea is called Dreamwalking. Dreamwalking is the idea that someone can control their own dreams. However, there are cases where instances have been recorded while someone is in a state of deep sleep with heavy brain activity.
Pondering all of this, the Brandon Auman directed Sleepwalker, set to hit theaters and arrive on demand January 9, 2026 through Brainstorm Media, starring Hayden Panettiere (Remember The Titans 2000, Heroes series), Beverly D’Angelo(National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 1989, American History X 1998), and Justin Chatwin (Shameless series, Reagan 2024) explores the idea of dreamwalking and the blurred lines between reality and nightmares.
After the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma, Sarah is haunted by visions of nightmarish scenarios. Sarah must learn to distinguish reality from nightmares. Introducing Corinne Sweeney (Aimee) and Laird LaCoste (Holden), Holden, Sarah’s son, soon begins to experience the same nightmares and sleepwalking as Aimee, Sarah’s daughter, once did. Sarah realizes that it is not just her seeing her dead daughter and comatose husband in her nightmares.
Simply put, Sleepwalker is a brilliant idea, making for an intriguing storyline. The husband was abusive, the wife wants a divorce, the kids “deserve” to be with their “loving” father, but the mother does not want to give them up. These are all regular, realistic events. What makes the story intriguing is adding in the sleepwalking and the fact that the abusive husband is only in a comatose state and is still having dreams and can manipulate them.
Looking more closely at the cast, Panttiere has received several nominations for her roles in the Soaps Guiding Light and One Life to Live, as well as in films such as Lifetime Television’s 1999 If You Believe, and she does a great job in Sleepwalker. Of course, the beautiful, witty, and talented actress Beverly D’Angelo adds a special kind of finesse to the film as well. Supporting actress playing Gloria (Sarah’s mother), D’Angelo does a fantastic job.
Additionally, lighting and music meshed very well in Sleepwalker, giving off ominous feelings and disturbing vibes. Furthermore, one thing that sticks with you in Sleepwalker is the amount of time you spend trying to untangle or distinguish the nightmares from reality. Not only are the actors racing to find out which is which, but the viewer is, too. The ending is very in your face, where you might say “holy crap!’ In the end, it is imperative to pay attention to everything, and the details matter.
A story that keeps the viewer intrigued, a star-studded cast that works brilliantly together, Sleepwalker is a fascinating film that Cryptic Rock gives 5 out of 5 stars.
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