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Sleepwalker

Sleepwalker

When night falls, every memory can be a nightmare.

202689 minMidcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
Director
Brandon Auman
Starring
Hayden Panettiere, Justin Chatwin, Beverly D'Angelo, Mischa Barton

A grieving mother is haunted by the tragic loss of her daughter in a car accident that left her abusive husband in a coma. As she battles a surreal descent into darkness, her sleepwalking episodes intensify. Plagued by haunting visions of her husband inside their home, she grapples with the blurred lines between reality and nightmare.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Sleepwalker?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Sleepwalker streaming on Pluto TV (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Sleepwalker?

Sleepwalker earns 1 badge: Overhyped.

Reception

Is Sleepwalker worth watching?

Sleepwalker's Midcredits score is the 4th percentile of all films, from 2.4K ratings across 4 sources. 18% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

4th percentile

Better received than 4% of films

22nd percentile among Horror5th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)6th
Approval (how many liked it)6th

42 /100

6th percentile of all films

26th percentile among Horror8th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

Ratings scatter across the whole scale — one of the most divisive reactions in the catalog.

Approval

How many liked it

18% liked it

6th percentile of all films

29th percentile among Horror8th percentile among 2020s
18% rated it 7–1082% rated it 1–6

Critics 14%

The Rotten Tomatoes critic score.

Reach

How many have seen it

81st percentile

2.4K ratings across platforms

81st percentile among Horror82nd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 3% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$184K

38th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

A grief-driven supernatural thriller carried by Hayden Panettiere's performance, but muddled by an uneven script that never fully commits to either psychological or horror territory.

Fans praised

  • Hayden Panettiere's committed emotional performance
  • dark, immersive atmosphere and haunting visuals
  • effective tension and emotional weight

Detractors panned

  • incoherent plot with inconsistent rules
  • unscary and forgettable horror elements
  • weak script and shallow character development

What stands out

ActingDivisive65

Panettiere praised as committed and emotive; Chatwin and Barton panned as cartoonish or wasted

AtmosphereDivisive60

dark wintry atmosphere noted by all; detractors find it undercooked

Emotional impactDivisive50

grief and trauma resonate for fans; detractors feel drained

Plot and storyDivisive35

concept promising but execution disjointed and predictable

TensionDivisive35

effectively built by fans; detractors call it uninvolving

CharactersDivisive30

leads lack depth or consistency; Holden's behavior called confusing

Ending30

predictable or confusing; rarely satisfying

PacingDivisive30

draining and loses momentum

Watch experience

What is Sleepwalker like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Scary: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for heavy feelings, and you want to be scared.

It takes its time and leaves you unsettled. Skip it when you want an easy night or you want things to move fast.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings, patience and a taste for open questions.

What it feels like

Scary.

The answer rests on this: Moods
DreadMelancholicTense
Heaviest: middle
Register
Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.Bleak · 8% of films
Told as
Nonlinear · 6% of films: Events shown out of chronological order.
ToneThe film plays its material straight, treating the grief and abuse with a brooding, bleak seriousness, though the execution is uneven.
The rideThe mood is dominated by dread and melancholy as the protagonist's sleepwalking and visions intensify, with tension building through the middle stretch; reviews note a draining, slow-burn pace.
StructureThe story shifts between reality and nightmare, with dream sequences and flashbacks creating a nonlinear timeline.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Unsettled.

UnsettlingBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's unresolved grief and abusive relationship linger, leaving an unsettling and melancholic aftertaste.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Monster
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21% (this title): Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1% (this title)
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Inner demon: The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.

21% of films fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeA grieving mother's psychological descent and visions of her abusive husband blur reality and nightmare, framing her trauma as an inner demon to confront.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfTraumaSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% (this title) · Trauma 7% (this title) · Mental illness 1% (this title) · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

Trauma · 7% of filmsGrief · 6% of filmsMental illness · 1% of films
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe film centers on a mother's struggle with the psychological aftermath of her daughter's death and her abusive husband's coma, exploring how trauma and grief distort reality.
StanceThe film closely follows Sarah's psychological unraveling, questioning how trauma and grief manifest without offering a clear moral judgment.

The world

ContemporaryDomesticInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Sebastian Evans
Settinga grieving mother's home and a hospital where her husband lies in a coma
MusicThe score likely underscores the surreal, tense atmosphere with brooding strings and ambient textures.

Content guide

Is Sleepwalker okay for kids?

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • Russia18+
  • Türkiye16+

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Sleepwalker have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Sleepwalker?

Cast

Hayden Panettiere
as Sarah
Justin Chatwin
as Michael
Beverly D'Angelo
as Gloria
Mischa Barton
as Joelle
Lori Tan Chinn
as Bai Zhao
Eric Lutes
as Doctor Henson
Kea Ho
as Nurse Alexis
Cathy Salvodon
as Aniya
Gene Dante
as Lawrence
Chris Everett
as Doctor Langford

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Sleepwalker?

Movies like Sleepwalker include The Uninvited (2009), The Woman in the Yard (2025) and The Other (1972). Of the 12 closest matches, all are psychological horror films, and several are films about mental illness.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 12 share its world: suburban middle class. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Sleepwalker?

2.9K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: psychological horror. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.