Deep Sleep (2013) User Reviews

Another art film inspired by the Giallo genre but a good one at that

[bsam2089 · 6/10 · 17 January 2015]

Don't get me wrong here, this is a visually stunning tribute to one of my favorite genre's in cinema history but this is not the return of the giallo. This is another art film that is a tribute to the genre rather than a "new" giallo, much the same as "Amer" (2009). The entire film is shot POV and doesn't for one second give us a conventional shot, the camera is in constant motion, giving a hand-held look that at times shows nothing more than the floor. Sure, it's it fills every second with delirious giallo imagery but I would like anybody out there to name me one real giallo from back in the day that is nothing but this. They weren't, they were wonderful murder mysteries, full of twists and turns, in a style all of there own. As a tribute, it is wonderful but a bona fide giallo it is not. The theme is spot on, the 70's setting and old school effects add to it's authenticity. But what we have here is something akin to a rock album where each track is comprised solely of lead guitar solos - no bad thing but not a complete song structure. I hope that explains what I'm trying to say here. Dialogue is very minimal but then again so is the entire plot. We are entertained through out by a soundtrack that is everything you want it to be without purely ripping off Mr Simonetti, works perfectly with the visuals on screen. Plot wise, we have a black gloved killer (shown only as a pair of black gloved hands with the exception of one or two scenes) who suffers from a childhood trauma. The killer is seen to stalk and murder a very sexy young women only to return home to find that somebody has witnessed this act. The killer receives a set of photos of the deed with a phone number. When calling the number, it is answered by somebody who questions why the murder was done and then threatens to kill the killer. This should have set the scene for a fantastic game of cat and mouse between the two but after one brief confrontation we are then thrown into tons of surreal imagery that leads to a cop out ending. Not an unintelligent ending, mind you, but certainly not original. If you are a big fan of the giallo genre then certainly see this film, you may well enjoy it's over the top excess. However, I will caution you to keep a bottle of aspirin handy and if you do suffer from light sensitivity of any form then be warned.

Like a cover band

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 20 June 2020]

After murdering his latest female victim, a killer is blackmailed with mysterious envelopes filled with evidence of all of his kills. However, as we hear no dialogue and only see things from the killer's point of view, we are forced to be part of his crimes. Directed, written and scored by Luciano Onetti and produced by Nicolas Onetti, this movie is the start of their giallo tribute films. Each one has grown in ability and style, but even at the beginning, with the handcuffs of an incredibly simple story, a first person camera and a slavish devotion to Argento, this is well above any of the spate of giallo-influenced films of this century.

Even the blood looks like it came out of an Argento film. That's how far this goes. So, you know, if you hated Deep Red, there's no way that you'll like this.

Welcome back Giallo

[abucketofcorn · 8/10 · 17 August 2014]

This film is what it's all about. This is a shining example of the reason why I love cinema so much. This is the exploration of the true art form of originality and the love affair of a classic style of cinema. This bleeds modern day Giallo rebirth and yet has all the wonderful trademarks of the classic Giallo film. This is everything and more that I ask for in the art of cinema and also in the art of originality and the true essence of cinema making. Truly an amazing piece of modern cinema. A passionate example of clarity in the reality of making a memorable piece of film. I could not ask for anything different. This is something I will remember and will always return to and also spread to others on what they should be watching and that's this film.

Move over Sergio Martino and Umberto Lenzi for there is a new stylized master of Giallo. Giallo cinema had away with strange musical arrangements. Over the top and twisted whodunit plots. Thick red blood and excessive violence and victims. Giallo gave amazing sexual imagery of a raunchy nature. Giallo films came through with an operatic type visual style that told a story in a dreamlike state of being for the viewer.

What this film does is take all that is Giallo and the grainy classic style of filmmaking that you would see at the grind house or in the 70s style of Giallo films. It never shows the killers face it always shows you the perspective of his hands, the weapon or his viewpoint. You get close-ups of everything he does, everything his hands are doing and also the murder of his victims. You get to see his perspective and experience and plus his ultimate blackmail, for someone else is there and knows his dirty deeds.

A strange masterpiece.

[hnatc · 8/10 · 8 November 2014]

Well, that was surreal as hell. I live in a town where people often complain there is nothing to do. Our local independent cinema puts on a horror film festival, were any of the film buff horror fans I know around here there? nope. I literally got the lovely old place to myself.

Enough of the situation, the film itself is a wonderful homage to analogue film making. The period details were very nicely done. Its first person perspective on top of the dream like Italian giallo stylistics and plot flow made for a thoroughly entertaining viewing experience.

I am glad to have seen it on the big screen. If you are here because its showing at an independent near you, go forth, go forth and view.

Exquisite Visual Feast Captures the True Spirit of Giallo

[thalassafischer · 10/10 · 1 June 2023]

Sonno Profondo is truly a revelation, and while I enjoyed Onetti's Francesca, this is probably his masterpiece. I have never seen a film that more perfectly captured exactly what giallo means to me, a sordid and beautiful dream of 1970s aesthetics. Deep Sleep is incoherent in the best possible way, and I do not normally congratulate directors for resorting to nonsense. Onetti weaves together a tapestry of emotional images, antiques, nostalgia, sex, death and opera in a symphony of grainy late 20th century muted colors accented with splashes of bright red blood and black gloves. If there is a claim that mid-century Italian horror and gialli could be spiritual on any level, Sonno Profondo is the perfect homage to it.