The Nightmare

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The Nightmare

2015

1h 30m

Documentary

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

60 Reviews

43%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Eight people experience sleep paralysis, a condition which leaves them unable to move, speak or react.

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Critics Consensus

Part documentary, part thriller, The Nightmare works just well enough in both respects to deliver a uniquely disturbing viewing experience.

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Adam Nayman

The Walrus

Few non-fiction films pack the affective punch of The Nightmare, which seeks to turn viewers into mirror images of its terror-stricken subjects.

Feb 29, 2016

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Mark Kermode

Observer (UK)

Watching this overegged hybrid docu-horror investigation of sleep paralysis, I found myself fighting the urge to snooze.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 11, 2015

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David Jenkins

Little White Lies

Ascher should be making actual horror movies.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2015

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Jorge Ignacio Castillo

The Canadian Crew

The Nightmare is undeniably entertaining, but it's just empty calories.

Rated: 2/5

Jan 30, 2020

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Joey Keogh

Wicked Horror

The Nightmare is momentarily diverting... But it feels over-long, it doesn't have much to say in spite of the admittedly interesting subject matter, and it's unlikely non-horror fans are going to find it particularly scary.

Rated: 4/10

Oct 2, 2019

Full Review

C.J. Prince

Way Too Indie

The Nightmare obviously wants to scare people, and even though Ascher can be hit or miss on the recreations, he does have a good share of unnerving moments courtesy of his subjects.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 3, 2019

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Melissa L

I've suffered from nightmares since I was a child. I felt that it could have been better.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

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Iamwhoi M

More boring, than anything.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/18/25

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Alec B

It's interesting and scary but only at surface level. I get why Ascher avoided using an experts as interview subjects but it also makes me wonder what the point is here . . . even just a few minutes of expository dialogue could help give some context.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/13/23

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Gareth v

Neither a horror story or an enlightening doco, this feature comes across as a confused mess.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

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Audience Member

I loved this movie because I've encountered sleep paralysis before. If you're watching to get scared, this isn't the one but if you want to learn about a world rarely discussed, you've found it. Don't try to compare to Insidious, it's not at that level. Aside from the silly shadow men and alien figures, it did great at explaining what people who suffer from or have experienced this go thru. Maybe more people will be compassionate when kids have them.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I've experienced sleep paralysis with hypnagogic hallucinations and I can't think of anything in my life that was more terrifying. I truly hope if you haven't been through this, you never will. This movie is a vivid depiction of the perfect storm nightmares are made of.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Rodney Ascher

Director

Stephen Joseph

Actor

Estrella Cristina

Actor

Siegfried Peters

Chris

Yatoya Toy

Actor

Elise Robson

Actor

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Synopsis

Eight people experience sleep paralysis, a condition which leaves them unable to move, speak or react.

Director: Rodney Ascher
Producer: Ross M. Dinerstein, Glen Zipper, Tim Kirk
Production Co: New City Road, Campfire, Zipper Bros Films, Highland Park Classics
Genre: Documentary, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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