HE SEES YOU WHEN YOU’RE SLEEPING

Canada, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
Cameron Bancroft, Erika Eleniak, Udo Kier, Greg Evigan.
Directed by David Winning.

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping is based on a novel by Mary Higgins Clark. It has some aspects of the murder mysteries and crime thrillers that are the staple of her novels. However, it is also a Christmas fantasy – in the vein of Here Comes Mr Jordan, Heaven Can Wait, Down to Earth.

The film focuses on a stockbroker, played by Cameron Bancroft, who is killed in a freak accident on a golf course. An angel appears to him and gives him an opportunity to redeem himself, by using his wits to protect the woman that he loved in the past, Erika Eleniak, and her daughter who is threatened by gangsters. She is in the witness protection program. They also link up with someone whose house was burnt by the gangsters and who also gives testimony.

The film has the light touch, the fantasy element, along with the romance, making up for past regrets, justice being done in the courts against gangsters.

1.The popularity of Mary Higgins Clark novels? This variation on her usual themes? Fantasy?

2.The North American settings, the homes, the world of gangsters, stockbrokers, golf course…? Realist atmosphere for a fantasy? Musical score?

3.The title, the overtones of the guardian angel? Sterling Brooks as a guardian angel?

4.The introduction to Sterling, his high-handed methods, arrogance? Golf, his accidental death? The appearance of the angel? The discussions, the offer for help? His hesitation, accepting? The swift movement (by editing) of Sterling and the angel? Thinking where to be and being there? His meeting Annie, the memories of the past and his relationship with her? Seeing her daughter?

5.Marissa, with her grandmother, her age, anger with her mother? The past bonds? Her not knowing her father? Skating, behaving arrogantly? The threats by the Mafia? Her mother, the witness program, the phone calls, wanting her mother to be home for Christmas?

6.Sterling, the discussions with the angel, being on his own? His being able to be seen by Marissa? Her reaction against him? Gradual acceptance? The possibility of his doing good?

7.The flashbacks, Annie and her mother, the restaurant, the social function, her singing, acclaim? The invoice, in the gangster’s room, hiding under the desk, hearing the threats against Hans Kramer? Burning down his house? Her escape? The house burning down, Kramer’s reaction? Her talking to the police, going into the protection program?

8.Junior Badgett and his brother? Gangsters, ruthless? Burning down the house? Debts and payment? Their reaction against Annie? The relationship of the two brothers, with the memory of their mother?

9.The irony of the mother, appearing as an angel, her intervention with her sons? Appearance to the older brother? His going state’s evidence? Her appearance, the portrait, her threats? Saving the day?

10.The court appearances, the testimony? The judge? Annie and her fears?

11.The abduction of Marissa, hiding her? Sterling, using his initiative, finding her, rescuing her?

12.The appearance in court, giving testimony? The revelation that Sterling was Marissa’s father? The party, the mother and her cheerfulness, the photo?

13.Sterling going to Heaven? Yet his presence in the photo? The fantasy variation on the crime theme?