DON'T GO TO SLEEP

US, 1982, 93 minutes, Colour.
Valerie Harper, Ruth Gordon, Dennis Weaver, Robert Webber.
Directed by Richard Lang.

Don't Go To Sleep is an entertaining and somewhat eerie ghost. story. It focuses on an ordinary family, their clashes, the memories of the eldest daughter - and the youngest daughter seeing a accident with a death and her being possessed by her dead sister with dire consequences to the whole family.

Dennis Weaver is effective as the weak father, Valerie Harper as the strong mother. Ruth Gordon acts her wisecracking, seemingly slovenly, self as the grandmother. Claudette Levins is particularly good as the possessed daughter.

The film is designed for a television audience and so is not so strong on explicit violence or horror. It relies on atmosphere.

1. Entertaining telemovie? Ghost story? Family drama?

2. American cities, homes, family life, doctors, psychologists? Musical score and atmosphere?

3. The title and its reference to Mary, to the rest of the family?

4. The setting with the family, the car ride, concern about Mary, Kevin tormenting her, the introduction to Philip and Laura? Concern about Bernice? Her arriving first? The setting up of the new house? The memory of the accident? Recriminations? A new start?

5. The gradual focus on Mary, her clashes with Kevin, her being frightened, her not being able to sleep, the appearances of Jennifer, her fright and nightmares, waking, in Levin's room, sharing with him? The continued visits of Jennifer, their friendship, Jennifer's insinuations, the build-up to the killings? Mary going to the psychologist, her fending off his questions, her bluntness? Was she insane or not? Possessed by her dead sister? The murder of the grandmother, getting even or go on the roof, the electrocuting of her father, the confrontation of her mother? In her going to the hospital? The discussions with the psychologist? The psychiatrist and her being possessed by Jennifer and talking in both personalities? Trying to treat her well - and her mother's fear?

6. The sketch of Philip, his hard work, love for his wife, children, clashes with Bernice? His not being able to cope, drinking, Laura and her accusations? His concern about his children, the funerals? His drinking in the bath, his death? The flashbacks and his role in the accident? Laura and her strength, coping with the children, her angers, her grief at the deaths, her mother, the funeral, clashes with Philip, his death? Kevin and her grief? Her horror of Mary, falling down the stairs, the hospital? Going home? The flashbacks and her place in the accident?

7. Bernice, age, in the family, tormented? The memory of the accident and her role? Reaction, to Jennifer, Mary's jealousy, no affection? Her responsibility for Mary's reaction?

8. Kevin and his playfulness, antagonism, his playing with Mary, going onto the roof, her killing him?

9. Jennifer as the favourite, her death and resentment towards her family, trapped in the car? Playing on Mary's jealousy and hunt?

10. The psychologist, his interviews, questions, fencing with Mary? His reliance on the psychiatrist and her discovery of the two personalities?

11. Psychological drama? entertainment, horror story?