By David Dent
Director James Ross II could have chosen a rather different title for his debut feature if he wanted it to stand out, as there’s a few movies already in existence with the same title, although he already has some form on this; his 2023 short Don’t Blink was the fourth entry with the same header.
I mention this because Parasomnia is actually a pretty good first movie, clearly influenced by the recent Philippou brothers’ offerings in its combination of folklore, creepy drama and gory action.
Riley (Jasmine Matthews) is a young woman who has learned to control her sleep, linked to night terrors that she has suffered from childhood linked to the death of her parents; every ten years she suffers anew, and people around her die.
A get together with her friend David (Stephen Barrington), boyfriend Cameron (RJ Brown) and David’s girlfriend (Danny Brown) triggers the appearance of a supernatural entity behind the murders; the Seer, whose penchant for eaten eyeballs ups the movie’s gross out factor.
Parasomnia wants to, and successfully does, have its cake and eat it; if you’ll pardon the awkward phrasing. Things start pretty much like many other genre movies, with young people being terrified by a presence initially only announced by a distorted lens effect. But events slowly get really complicated (and creepy) as the Seer’s purpose is known. Ross wrong foots the audience several times, compounded by telling the story from different character perspectives, requiring the viewer to play close attention (somewhat of a rare approach these days).
I really liked this obviously low budget, well-acted and at times seriously scary film. It doesn’t outstay its welcome and in Jasmine Matthews gives us a standout performance.
Parasomnia screened as part of Overlook Film Fest 2026.
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