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Light Sleeper

R Released Aug 21, 1992 1h 48m Mystery & Thriller TRAILER for List
87% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A Manhattan drug dealer with a wealthy clientele, John LeTour (Willem Dafoe) reevaluates both his trade and his life after discovering that his supplier, Ann (Susan Sarandon), is planning on quitting the business. When John runs into his old flame Marianne (Dana Delany), he sees reconnecting with her as a way to change for the better, but she is reluctant to rekindle the romance. Complicating John's life further is a series of drug-related murders that has the police pegging him as a suspect.
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Light Sleeper

Light Sleeper

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Critics Consensus

Light Sleeper requires patience, but delivers commensurate rewards -- and boasts an absorbing performance from Willem Dafoe.

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Critics Reviews

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Hugo Davenport Daily Telegraph (UK) American filmmakers have a weakness for presenting a shoot-out as either the precursor of redemption or redemptive in itself; this film falls into the latter group. May 20, 2022 Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian The cast is skilfully alert... and Schrader's vision is unencumbered either by sentiment or cynicism. Feb 28, 2021 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Light Sleeper is emblematic of an era, and is recommended on that basis and on the excellent quality of it acting. Rated: 3/4 Sep 9, 2014 Full Review Steve Warren Southern Voice (Atlanta) Though well acted and never uninteresting, Light Sleeper is far less intense than most of Schrader's work and further diluted by an unrealistic ending. May 9, 2023 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine From that opening use of “World on Fire”, Been’s vocals and melancholic, somber tones feel as rooted in the essence of Light Sleeper as Dafoe’s razor-sharp bone structure, or those heaps of trash bags lining the sidewalks. Rated: 10/10 Sep 23, 2022 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an erratic yet predominantly satisfying effort from Schrader. Rated: 3.5/4 Jun 30, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jelisije J One of those films that takes it time to build up to its finale and sometimes the build up doesn't get a pay off if the finale was terrible......this movie finale however left me wanting to rewatch this film again. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/09/24 Full Review Dani o i dont get how anyone would hate this movie, perfect 90s hollywood vibes, good script, great casting, im not comparing but would be something like taxi drivers good twin, willem dafoe´s character is top Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Adam H Came to Light Sleeper from both First Reformed and Taxi Driver, as I've been meaning to for some time. The mood and characterization is great, but the meandering nature of the plot felt unsatisfying at the end. Edit: also came to this movie, now, via jetlag. I wanted more sleep problems! All he needed for a good night's sleep was to get together with his ex. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the more interesting character studies about a drug affiliate struggling in multiple aspects of life. Paul Schrader and his very game cast make this small budget exercise absorbing Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review James B Another good film that is let down by it's ending. No explanation given at all for why what happened, happened m Other than the ending was a great moody dark film. It seemed to have a Lynchian style to it; the soundtrack reminded me of twin peaks with it's dreamy synth sound. To reiterate, a great film only let down by it's ending. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/23/21 Full Review adam b An amazingly subtle and slow-moving film that is handled with the upmost care. Dark and bleak, it's a perfect snapshot of drug dealers and users. A must see for thought-provoking cinema Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Light Sleeper

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Cast & Crew

Final Analysis 56% 44% Final Analysis Consenting Adults 29% 31% Consenting Adults Basic Instinct 55% 64% Basic Instinct TRAILER for Basic Instinct Single White Female 53% 44% Single White Female Whispers in the Dark 33% 72% Whispers in the Dark Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A Manhattan drug dealer with a wealthy clientele, John LeTour (Willem Dafoe) reevaluates both his trade and his life after discovering that his supplier, Ann (Susan Sarandon), is planning on quitting the business. When John runs into his old flame Marianne (Dana Delany), he sees reconnecting with her as a way to change for the better, but she is reluctant to rekindle the romance. Complicating John's life further is a series of drug-related murders that has the police pegging him as a suspect.
Director
Paul Schrader
Producer
Linda Reisman
Screenwriter
Paul Schrader
Distributor
Fine Line Features
Production Co
Grain of Sand Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 21, 1992, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.0M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Mono
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