PopHorror Let's Get Scared
“A Dark Fairy Tale.”
Parasomnia is one of my favorite films. The blend of mechanics, twisted dreamscapes, obsession and psychological flaws that we, as humans, all have, combine in a symphony of delicious horror with an obvious creep factor on many levels in a glorious Steampunk style.
Parasomnia has potential to become a cult classic in is a must in every horror fan’s collections. It was released in 2008 and was both written and directed by William Malone (House on Haunted Hill 1999). It stars Sean Young (Blade Runner 1982), Patrick Kilpatrick (Minority Report 2001), Dylan Purcell (The Unknown 2005) and, last but certainly not least, Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator 1985).
Parasomnia is a story about love and obsession. This is a dark fairy tale where two characters battle over a young sleeping beauty, one is obsessed with her body to the point of wanting to kidnapping her, and the other wants her very soul. He succeeds in manipulating her dreams and goes to great lengths of mastery over her fragile, virgin mind. It starts off as a love story but soon turns into a bizarre horror with eccentric cinematography and mechanical dolls. There are hints of Guillermo Del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) as Malone takes you along with his disturbing yet imaginative scenes as you experience the world behind closed eyes.
Romeo and Juliet comes to mind when viewing this film but with a sadistic twist. For those who appreciate the gore factor, there are plenty of ways to satisfy those taste buds. Parasomnia starts off a bit slow but soon intensifies as you continue to watch. Sergei Prokofiev’s haunting violin piece, “Entrance of the Montagues and Capulets,” played by the mechanical dolls, will always echo in my mind.
Trivia
- William Malone both wrote and directed Parasomnia and funded the entire project himself – thus breaking the first rule of filmmaking: “Never finance your own movies.”
- Parasomnia was filmed on the same stage as House on Haunted Hill (1999), another project directed by William Malone.
- This film is surprisingly not one of the big studio films that William Malone is noted for, as it was actually a personal project. After writing it, he was so taken that he decided to create his masterpiece and avoid the studio route.
- William Malone wrote Parasomnia while he was working on his Masters of Horror episode, “Fair-Haired Child.”
- Finance for the film came from William Malone and a friend refinancing their houses.
- One of the creatures in the film is an unused design from a Masters of Horror episode. Malone actually built the creature himself for the film.
- Malone’s high school garage band, The Plagues, can be heard on the soundtrack, along with other garage bands from the 1960s.
Movie Quotes to Remember
- “Pretty things always have a tragic end. It’s one of the laws of nature and only serves to make them more beautiful.”
- “She’s mine in time, in time she’s mine.”
So, if you find yourself lost in a nightmarish slumber, remember… all you need to do is wake up.
If you haven’t seen this bizarre horror yet, make a note to add it to your movie collection. I found the film creative, and it boggles the imagination of those with any kind of sleep disorder. Let us know what you think in the comments!
