Rating: 
Summary: Why you need a code-free NTSC/PAL player
Review: So you can see the uncut WIDESCREEN Italian or English dubbed (your choice) version with optional English subs. (Available from Medusa Video in Italy for about 30 bucks and easy to find on the internet.)Bite me Artisan!
Rating: 
Summary: Vicious, original, Horror but the storys in a coma
Review: The opening of this film is superior to that of his Renaissance giallo 'Suspiria' its a full on assault on your senses But I wont spoil it, or will I be travelling at night on a train for a while.
There are 2 ways you can rate this film, for its murder set pieces or for Storyline , for the first it stands head above shoulders better than any Hollywood tripe, this has some very very nasty voyeuristcally sadistic killings, It left a very bad taste in my mouth and I'm not a horror wimp , lets just say some poor gal got a mouthful of music like you can't imagine. This film is a good enough start to Argentos millennial debut but the storyline starts promising and no thanks to such poor dubbing on the VHS the end conclusion is incoherent , and your left feeling like you've half wasted your time, as Argento fans will know this is same old problem that ruins his films. In the dubbing we get American / Cockney / italian characters and its just stupid , all his artistry is sacrificed by this which will culminate in 'Virgin viewers' blaming the director- and fair enough they lace the mans wallet. On the + side Max Von Sydow gives a pretty good performance I cant tell if the other actors were incompetent or let down by bad dubbing.
For entertainment the film does deliver but you need a strong stomach to watch this , Argento anoraks will love it and you'll need an anorak its bloodsoaked, if you want a story though rent Snow White. By the way Dario's answer to why he kills so many women is simple 'his mum never let him leave the light on and he thought of her as a monster' , Can you imagine being his enemy ?
Rating:
Summary: Decent Argento, Poor DVD
Review: The three stars are for the film. "Sleepless" has taken a beating by a lot of Argento "fans" who seem to take shots at the acting and the pacing of the film, and as a fan myself, I can't say that they're necessarily wrong. However, the acting and pacing of almost any Argento thriller (like Tenebre, Deep Red, or Opera) has never been that great. And no Argento film has ever featured any actor as good as Max Von Sydow, and the plot logic actually holds up fairly well here. The camera moves may not be as plentiful or as flashy as earlier Argento movies, but this one has good atmosphere and the usual attractive score. Unfortunately, Artisan has released a cropped, full screen version (compare it to the included trailer). There are plenty of shots that are too crowded, and the transfer isn't that well done. It's not as awful as the hack job they did with "Knight Movies," but it's far from what this deserves. I just wish Artisan and Troma (which released "The Stendhal Syndrome") would leave Argento titles to Anchor Bay. However, until someone puts out a proper DVD of this title, this flick is well worth an Argento fan's time and that of any adventurous fan of thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: Decent Argento, Poor DVD
Review: The three stars are for the film. "Sleepless" has taken a beating by a lot of Argento "fans" who seem to take shots at the acting and the pacing of the film, and as a fan myself, I can't say that they're necessarily wrong. However, the acting and pacing of almost any Argento thriller (like Tenebre, Deep Red, or Opera) has never been that great. And no Argento film has ever featured any actor as good as Max Von Sydow, and the plot logic actually holds up fairly well here. The camera moves may not be as plentiful or as flashy as earlier Argento movies, but this one has good atmosphere and the usual attractive score. Unfortunately, Artisan has released a cropped, full screen version (compare it to the included trailer). There are plenty of shots that are too crowded, and the transfer isn't that well done. It's not as awful as the hack job they did with "Knight Movies," but it's far from what this deserves. I just wish Artisan and Troma (which released "The Stendhal Syndrome") would leave Argento titles to Anchor Bay. However, until someone puts out a proper DVD of this title, this flick is well worth an Argento fan's time and that of any adventurous fan of thrillers.
Rating:
Summary: Should be called Sleeper.
Review: The version I rented before I decided to buy this film was cut due to gore. This film with the grisly murders and gore might actually be better and I might have given it one more star but gees this one was so boring, boring, boring, boring, boring. I fell asleep 3 times watching this film had to rewind next day and tried and start over thinking that there was something wrong w/ me. But after the 3rd time trying I decided this movie ... Really the movie takes so long for it to get to the ... point!!! It has a few things that it tries to do but just doesnt drive it home. For example, Dario painstakingly tries to make the detective come alive by explaining his past and then tells what he has become like now but its just really boring the way he does it and he takes so long to do it that it covers almost 20-30 min. of the film. My advice is dont rent this film or buy it. Its a complete waste of money. It is also not one of Argento's better films. If you do decide to rent it, at least get the uncut version so that at least you can enjoy the gore if you are a gore hound.
Rating:
Summary: Should be called Sleeper.
Review: The version I rented before I decided to buy this film was cut due to gore. This film with the grisly murders and gore might actually be better and I might have given it one more star but gees this one was so boring, boring, boring, boring, boring. I fell asleep 3 times watching this film had to rewind next day and tried and start over thinking that there was something wrong w/ me. But after the 3rd time trying I decided this movie ... Really the movie takes so long for it to get to the ... point!!! It has a few things that it tries to do but just doesnt drive it home. For example, Dario painstakingly tries to make the detective come alive by explaining his past and then tells what he has become like now but its just really boring the way he does it and he takes so long to do it that it covers almost 20-30 min. of the film. My advice is dont rent this film or buy it. Its a complete waste of money. It is also not one of Argento's better films. If you do decide to rent it, at least get the uncut version so that at least you can enjoy the gore if you are a gore hound.
Rating:
Summary: Addition to my review
Review: The version of the film I was commenting on is from the Italian DVD print which has an English version. Yes, its true, Anchor Bay is the only company that can decently put out anything. If what everyone here is saying is true, (and there's too many to be wrong) then forget this version and contact DCS Video Screams. Thats where I got my copy. It's still not the best video quality, but at least the violence was in tact...
Rating: 
Summary: Why Does Artisan Entertainment Continue To Mees Up DVD's?
Review: This is a great giallo horror film, and Dario Argento has finally returned to full form with this latest effort. The fact that this disc is not only a full-frame version of the movie (making it look like a cheap 70's television show, with grain and "stretched" framing) but is also probably a R-rated cut of the film-- and we'll never knoiw because Artisan gives absolutely NO information on the film's specs and there is NO extra features on the disc-- is really disapointing. This is a poor bare-bones DVD release of a spectacular new horror thriller by one of the masters of the genre. Too bad Artisan once again fail to recognize greatness when it's right in front of them and dish out crap like this to customers who want better DVD products for their money. For Argento fans and DVD collectors, this is just another slap in the face by Artisan Entertainment. Be careful when buying Artisan DVD's from now on. You usually don't get what you pay for (I.E. see the recent Ginger Snaps Artisan DVD compared to its Canadian counterpart that actually HAS extra features to see what I mean). A truly pitiful DVD release of a great horror film. That's why I gave it a 2.
Rating:
Summary: Argento fans rejoice!!!
Review: THIS REVIEW IS OF THE DUTCH RELEASED UNCUT VERSION.
Ok, Ok, it's lightyears behind DEEP RED and SUSPIRIA but hey, it wipes the floor with TRAUMA.
I must say that my reaction to this film was so mixed that I immediately had to watch it again and I'm glad I did. Firstly, if your an Argento-file then you'll be happy to know that the murder scenes are graphic and gory but the film really looses out with it's atrociously dubbed voices and some miscasting in the major roles (Von Sydow excluded). Whilst this can be mainly overlooked, to a point, I also found the killer's identity to be blazingly obviously from my first viewing (something I don't like in an Argento movie) and the silly ending where all is revieled to be both unconvincing and particularly weak (I mean, this is Argento here). Also, whilst the film looks fine (don't expect the hallucination-inducing lighting of SUSPIRIA here), it looks like it was shot by the makers of the german horror/thriller ANATOMIE and not by a master like Argento.
Overall though, this is ten times better than the horribly inept TRAUMA and will satisfy many hungry Argento-files on those dark, rainy nights.
Rating: 
Summary: I am glad I didn't follow the reviewers
Review: This was a really enjoyable mystery movie with great music from Globin. It certainly is far better than most mysteries produced in Hollywood. I got into the story and kept trying to guess who the bad boy was. Max von Sydow was great, as always, and added another dimension to the mystery. I am glad I rented the VHS when I happened upon it. After watching great photography, scary moments and good acting for the most part, I bought the VHS and watched it again. It is far better than most of the reviewers said it was. The sound quality of the VHS was not the best so I gave it a 4 instead of a 5. Don't always go by what some reviewers say; give it your own personal try. You might like it.
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