Before I Go to Sleep Archives

Director: Rowan Joffe

Writer: Rowan Joffe (Screenplay) S.J. Watson (Novel)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Ben Crompton, Anne-Marie Duff, Adam Levy

Plot: A woman wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Good Thriller

Story: Before I Go to Sleep starts by showing Christine (Kidman) waking up in bed confused about who she is with her husband Ben (Firth) who she doesn’t know next to her. We learn how she had an accident and loses her memory everyday rewinding back to when she thought she was 20. We learn that Christine has been talking to a Dr Nasch (Strong) who has been trying to help with her memory. Rewind two weeks where Nasch explains what happened to first cause her memory loss and that someone tried to kill her. This leads her to make a secret video diary to hide from Ben as she works to uncover the truth about what happened.

Christine’s diaries keep her up to date with the things she is learning from Dr Nasch she has to deal with Ben’s story every morning before learning the truth about what could be the truth about what is happened. As each day passes Christine learns more secrets that Ben is hiding from her which leads to parts of her memory returning and along with Nasch they investigate what really happened.

Before I Go to Sleep is a film that gets straight to the point from the moment that Christine wakes up, we get to follow how things have been unfolding for her. We have a few twists here or there which all work nicely to reach the final outcome. Where this could be considered as bad would be that we don’t really get any suspects, we have two guys for supporting and that is it. It is clear it is going to be one of them and any twists become redundant to the final outcome. I don’t know how well it follows the book so I can’t give my opinion on any comparison. The good thing about this film is there are no slow points it just keeps flowing which is very important for a mystery thriller. (7/10)

Actor Review

Nicole Kidman: Christine our leading lady who can’t remember anything that has happened after an incident which leaves he re-living everyday like a brand new day where she believes she is twenty. She has to learn who to trust when it becomes apparent not everything is as it seems for her life with her husband Ben. Nicole gives a good performance as the leading lady dealing with memory problems. (8/10)

Colin Firth: Ben husband of Christine who has to fill in the blanks about who she is every day, but it soon becomes a reality that not everything about him is the truth. Colin gives a good performance in a role we wouldn’t be used to seeing him in. (7/10)

Mark Strong: Dr Nasch the man trying to help Christine figure out the truth about what happened to her and who was responsible. Mark also ends up going against typecast for his role in the film giving us good performance. (7/10)

Support Cast: Before I Go to Sleep doesn’t use a supporting cast at all, anyone that does turn up is only in one scene to help the story go into a different direction.

Director Review: Rowan Joffe – Rowan does a good job making the thrilling side of the story stick from start to finish. (7/10)

Mystery: Before I Go to Sleep keeps the mystery about the truth hidden through the whole film never letting all its card be shown too early. (8/10)

Thriller: Before I Go to Sleep dives straight in pulling into the story leaving you wondering where it will go next. (8/10)

Settings: Before I Go to Sleep uses it settings well showing how isolated Christine has become. (8/10)

Suggestion: Before I Go to Sleep is one for the thriller fans to enjoy as it never lets you go from start to finish. (Thriller Fans Watch)

Best Part: Kidman gives a great performance.

Worst Part: Not enough suspects.

Believability: No (0/10)

Chances of Tears: No (0/10)

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Box Office: $15 Million

Runtime: 1 Hour 32 Minutes