Nightmare (2023) spoiler free review

I am awake. Nightmare (Marerittet) is a 2023 Norwegian psychological horror film written and directed by Kjersti Helen Rasmussen. It had its premiere at the Fantastic Fest on September 25, 2022 and it will be released by Shudder on September 29, 2023.

Mona and Robby are a couple in love. Robby has just landed his dream job, and they’ve scored a spacious albeit run-down apartment. However, Mona is suddenly plagued by night terrors that grow more intense every time she falls asleep. Her problems spiral dangerously out of control when she becomes convinced that she’s being attacked by a demon.

Film synopsis

The cast includes Eili Harboe as Mona, Herman Tømmeraas as Robby, Dennis Storhøi as Aksel, Siri Black Ndiaye as Liv, Peter Førde as Martin, Gine Therese Grønner as Siren, and Preben Hodneland as David.

My opinion

Nightmare (Marerittet) follows Mona and Robby, a young and enthusiastic couple ready to start they life together at their new apartment. But soon, things will take a twist from the worst when Mona starts experiencing sleeping paralysis and dreams that has real consequences and not just in her head.

Throughout the film we will be watching various sequences of dreams that are difficult to distinguish from reality. Being only small details that betray it, these sequences are effective in deceiving the audience. However, this one starts too slow and predictable. Presenting similarities with Rosemary’s Baby (1960) and A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), it will be easy to predict where the film will be directed until the 3rd act. It is in this that the film takes a turn and becomes more intense, emotional, and unpredictable, culminating in a satisfactory way.

Unfortunately the movie has a way too slow pace, and turns redundant and predictable causing to quickly lose the interest in the story. The roles played by Eili Harboe and Herman Tømmeraas are well executed providing convincing performances. The sound effects that accompany the sleep sequences are accurate, adding tension to them, creating the right atmosphere. Had it not been for the predictable details and slow pace of the plot, this would have been an excellent modern psychological horror movie.