Chasing Sleep

Critics Consensus

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Chasing Sleep Photos

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Movie Info

Ed Saxon (Jeff Daniels) is an English professor of some repute whose life is thrown into serious chaos when his wife, Eve, fails to return home one day. After a sleepless night, Ed phones the police, who find no trace of Eve, save her abandoned car. Later Ed, by now exhausted and disheveled, is visited by a young student (Emily Bergl) who is concerned about his absence from class and has stopped by to drop off some food for him. The student has an obvious attraction towards Ed, and he lets her in the house, where she has an accident that results in a nosebleed and a blood-soaked sweater that she leaves behind. Inevitably, detectives come calling on Ed, who is close to a fatigue-fueled nervous breakdown and nearly loses it completely. His fragile state is further exacerbated when he discovers a mysterious object under a chest of drawers, causing him to veer more precipitously towards an all-encompassing emotional collapse.

Rating:

R (violence, language)
Genre:

Art House & International, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Michael Walker (VI)
Written By:

Michael Walker (VI)
In Theaters:

Sep 8, 2000 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Oct 16, 2001
Runtime:

104 minutes
Studio:

LionsGate Entertainment

Watch it now

Netflix

Cast

Jeff Daniels
as Ed Saxon

Emily Bergl
as Sadie

Gil Bellows
as Det. Derm

Zach Grenier
as Geoffrey Costas

Julian McMahon
as George

Ben Shenkman
as Off. Stewart

Molly Price
as Susie

Jeff Solano
as Neighbor

Guy Sanville
as Doctor

Bee Vary
as Mom

Lisa Elzinga
as Nurse

Michelle Held
as Mrs. Mastrioni

Dennis North
as Detective Mazurek

Patrick Moug
as Detective Snyder

Eros Ion Biox
as Bathtub Baby

Kristie Dickinson
as Eve

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Critic Reviews for Chasing Sleep

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (1)

It boasts impressive formal construction, beautiful cinematography and excellent acting.

Jul 20, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Chicago Tribune
Top Critic
Long, introspective, indulgent cinema is certainly here to stay - let's try for something a little, well, better.

Jun 21, 2007 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

Jason Gorber
Film Scouts
...a wonderfully creepy riff on Polanski's Repulsion...

Oct 2, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
...A gem well hidden on video store shelves beneath artwork that makes it look like a quick cash-in on the success of What Lies Beneath.

Apr 28, 2002 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central
A disappointment from start to finish.

Mar 31, 2002 | Rating: 67/100 | Full Review…

Patrick Byrne
Apollo Guide

View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Chasing Sleep

May 07, 2013

A silly bit of nonsense that is supposed to be art house but ends up being outhouse. Jeff Daniels tries but he can't lift this out of the rubbish bin.

John B Super Reviewer
Nov 12, 2007

This is just a genuinely strange little ditty. I really enjoyed it and Jeff Daniels is actually pretty good.

Patrick D Super Reviewer