When I found out a movie had been made about the Russian Sleep Experiment horror story, I was ecstatic. This is one of my favorite horror stories. I knew this had to be one I watched.
Immediately, the movie details from the source material focusing on the lead scientist and his interview with detectives about the experiment. We focus more on a story instead of experiencing the study. The scenes outside of the experiment fell flat for me. Neither party seemingly interested in what is happening throughout with exceptions.
The scenes inside the experiment were where the film shined. They were closer to the source, while still deviating. The acting inside of the experiment scenes were also more engaging following these 5 men and their lack of sleep.
Sadly, at the climax the movie decides to deviate entirely from the source material. If you do not want spoilers, avoid the rest of this.
Once they remove the men from the experiment that is it. The film focuses fully on the head scientist who is revealed to be the true psychopath. The film decided to ignore the source material and focus on the more boring aspect. In the original, it has a heavy focus on the last remaining survivor and their total descent into insanity. Instead, our last survivor is not insane and is just mentioned to have succumbed to infection.
Sadly, the ending of the film ruined it all for me as a fan of the source material. It was so disappointing to not see it focus on the insanity of the survivor and the effects the study truly had. It could have been so much better.
All in all, it was a solid watch. For those that don't know the original, they may like it more. In my opinion this is just another director that decided they wanted to make their own choices instead of staying true to the outline provided. A disappointing theme in modern media.
Immediately, the movie details from the source material focusing on the lead scientist and his interview with detectives about the experiment. We focus more on a story instead of experiencing the study. The scenes outside of the experiment fell flat for me. Neither party seemingly interested in what is happening throughout with exceptions.
The scenes inside the experiment were where the film shined. They were closer to the source, while still deviating. The acting inside of the experiment scenes were also more engaging following these 5 men and their lack of sleep.
Sadly, at the climax the movie decides to deviate entirely from the source material. If you do not want spoilers, avoid the rest of this.
Once they remove the men from the experiment that is it. The film focuses fully on the head scientist who is revealed to be the true psychopath. The film decided to ignore the source material and focus on the more boring aspect. In the original, it has a heavy focus on the last remaining survivor and their total descent into insanity. Instead, our last survivor is not insane and is just mentioned to have succumbed to infection.
Sadly, the ending of the film ruined it all for me as a fan of the source material. It was so disappointing to not see it focus on the insanity of the survivor and the effects the study truly had. It could have been so much better.
All in all, it was a solid watch. For those that don't know the original, they may like it more. In my opinion this is just another director that decided they wanted to make their own choices instead of staying true to the outline provided. A disappointing theme in modern media.