Haylie Duff (sister of the famous Hilary Duff) stars in this so-so Peter Sullivan-written and directed outing which warns viewers, “Don’t fall asleep.” Maybe not the best tagline for a movie which doesn’t always keep your attention, eh?
Here’s the plot: a young girl named Madison, who was born en caul (inside an intact amniotic sac), and thus has special powers, is now older but having night terrors in which a “Sandman” from her nightmares takes revenge upon anyone who tries to hurt her. After her father is killed in what looks like a swirl of gritty beach dirt, she goes to live with her Aunt Claire (his sister/aka Haylie). Meanwhile, nefarious men in dark suits are investigating a string of deaths they attribute to her father, a social worker doesn’t like Claire’s line of work as an ahem, boudoir photographer, and is trying to take Madison away, Claire’s airhead boyfriend and suspicious neighbor complicate things, and every time Madison goes to sleep, The Sandman gets stronger and more evil.
At first Claire doesn’t believe The Sandman is real. But soon, she sees him in action, and tries to help Madison. As the body count increases and the suit-men move in, Claire knows that help must defeat not only the humans who want Madison, but The Sandman himself.
- Top Scare: In morgue
- Heartbeats 2 1/4 out of 5
- Gore factor: 3 out of 5
- Scare factor: 2 1/2 out of 5
- Recommended for: 16 and up due to gore and violence