Fantastic Fest 2011

Director Jaume Balagueró live in person!

Fantastic Fest favorite Jaume Balagueró (writer and co-director, REC and REC 2) returns this year with his latest solo feature, SLEEP TIGHT, a markedly different slow-building pot-boiler.

Cesar (Malamadre from the kick-ass CELL 211) works as a doorman in a Barcelona residential complex (the director clearly has something of a fetish for the vertical shafts found in Barcelona apartment buildings). Observing his daily routine, you can see that Cesar is not a particularly happy man. Life is dull and repetitive and offers no real hope for him to break out of his daily grind.

However, he does seem to have one daily highlight; a small ray of sunshine in the form of one resident Clara. He always has her morning newspaper ready, takes care of her small household maintenance and is met by her bright smile as she passes by at the beginning and end of each day.

We gradually recognize a sinister side to Cesar. Perhaps his appreciation of Clara borders on unhealthy, dark obsession. As his behavior descends, other residents begin to suspect that something may not be quite right. Cesar must do whatever must be done to keep his plans intact.

In SLEEP TIGHT, Balagueró has crafted a masterful Hitchcockian thriller with notes of delicious black humor. This is the work of a mature storyteller, and we look forward to every yarn he ever wants to spin. (Tim League)