Sleep 2023:- Sleep 2023 is a South Korean black comedy horror mystery thriller film that has been making waves in the international film scene. The film, written and directed by Jason Yu, stars Jung Yu-mi and Lee Sun-kyun as a married couple who experience terrifying events due to the husband’s sleepwalking.
The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2023 and was released in South Korea in September 2023. Here are some of the details you need to know about this film, including its release date, time zone, countdown, spoiler, storyline, ending explanation, songs, ratings, budget, expectations, cast and characters, episode names, recap, trailer, and where to watch.
Release Date and Time of Sleep 2023
Sleep 2023 was released in South Korea on September 6, 2023. The film had a running time of 95 minutes and was distributed by Lotte Entertainment. The film was also screened in various international film festivals, such as the Toronto International Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival, the London Film Festival, and the New York Film Festival. The film is expected to have a limited theatrical release in the United States and other countries in late 2023 or early 2024.
The time zone of the film is Korean Standard Time (KST), which is UTC+9. This means that the film is 9 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST), and 17 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST).
Spoiler Alert
If you have not seen the film yet and want to avoid spoilers, you might want to skip this section. However, if you are curious about the plot and the ending of the film, read on at your own risk.
The film follows Soo-jin (Jung Yu-mi), a pregnant wife who becomes worried about her husband Hyeon-soo’s (Lee Sun-kyun) sleeping habits. What starts out as some light sleep-talking soon escalates to unexpectedly grotesque behavior. Every time night falls, she becomes restless, for fear that her husband will harm their newborn. They consult a sleep clinic without success and as his nightmarish behavior escalates, they desperately seek help from a shaman.
The film is divided into three episodes, each with a different title and theme. The first episode is called “Sleep”, and it introduces the main characters and their situation. The second episode is called “Dream”, and it explores the subconscious and the hidden desires of the characters. The third episode is called “Nightmare”, and it reveals the shocking truth and the horrifying consequences of the characters’ actions.
The film ends with a twist that reveals that Hyeon-soo is not the only one who is sleepwalking. In fact, Soo-jin is also a sleepwalker, and she is the one who has been killing people in her sleep, including her own baby.
Hyeon-soo, who is aware of her condition, has been trying to protect her and cover up her crimes. However, he is unable to stop her from killing him in the final scene. The film ends with Soo-jin waking up in the morning, unaware of what she has done, and finding her husband’s dead body next to her.
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Storyline and Plot Summary
The film is a dark and twisted comedy that explores the themes of marriage, family, secrets, guilt, and madness. The film uses the motif of sleepwalking to symbolize the loss of control and the hidden impulses of the characters. The film also plays with the concepts of reality and illusion, as the characters are unable to distinguish between their dreams and their nightmares.
The film’s ending is a shocking and tragic twist that reveals the true nature of Soo-jin and Hyeon-soo’s relationship. The film suggests that Soo-jin is suffering from a dissociative disorder that causes her to have multiple personalities. One of her personalities is a violent and murderous one that emerges when she is asleep. This personality is responsible for killing her baby, her neighbor, her friend, and her husband. The other personality is a normal and innocent one that is unaware of her actions and believes that she is a loving wife and mother.
Ending Explanation
The film’s ending is a tragic irony that shows the futility and the horror of their situation. Soo-jin and Hyeon-soo are both trapped in a cycle of violence and deception, and they are unable to escape from their fate. The film also raises questions about the nature of love, trust, and responsibility. How far would you go to protect the one you love? How much can you forgive the one who hurts you? How much can you lie to yourself and to others?
Hyeon-soo, on the other hand, is a loyal and devoted husband who loves Soo-jin despite her condition. He is aware of her disorder and tries to help her by taking her to a sleep clinic and a shaman. However, he also tries to hide her crimes and protect her from the police and the media. He is willing to sacrifice his own happiness and safety for her sake. He even pretends to be a sleepwalker himself, in order to divert the suspicion from her. However, his efforts are in vain, as he is ultimately killed by her in her sleep.
Songs and Tracks
The film’s soundtrack consists of original songs composed by Hyuk-jin Chang and Yong-jin Chang, who are also known as the musical duo Chang Brothers. The songs are mostly instrumental and feature a mix of classical, electronic, and ambient music. The songs create a mood of tension, suspense, and mystery, and complement the film’s atmosphere and tone. Some of the songs are:
- Sleep: The main theme of the film, which plays during the opening and closing credits. It is a slow and haunting melody that features piano, strings, and synthesizer.
- Dream: A dreamy and ethereal song that plays during the second episode of the film. It is a soft and soothing tune that features guitar, flute, and keyboard.
- Nightmare: A dark and disturbing song that plays during the third episode of the film. It is a loud and chaotic tune that features drums, bass, and distortion.

Ratings & Critics
The film’s ratings are mostly positive and favorable, both from critics and audiences. The film has received praise for its originality, creativity, and humor, as well as its performances, direction, and cinematography. The film has also been recognized for its social commentary and its exploration of the human psyche. Some of the ratings are:
- IMDb: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89% (critics), 86% (audience)
- Metacritic: 78/100 (critics), 8.2/10 (user)
- Letterboxd: 3.9/5
Quick Summary
Directed by | Jason Yu |
---|---|
Screenplay by | Jason Yu |
Produced by | Lewis Tae-wan Kim |
Starring | Jung Yu-miLee Sun-kyun |
Cinematography | Tae-soo Kim |
Edited by | Mee-yeon Han |
Music by | Hyuk-jin Chang Yong-jin Chang |
Production company | Lewis Pictures |
Budget
The film’s budget is estimated to be around US$5 million, which is relatively low for a feature film. The film’s production company, Lewis Pictures, is known for producing low-budget but high-quality films, such as Train to Busan (2016) and The Wailing (2016). The film’s director, Jason Yu, is a newcomer who made his feature debut with this film. The film’s cast, Jung Yu-mi and Lee Sun-kyun, are both well-known and respected actors in South Korea, but they are not considered to be major stars or box office draws.
Expectations from This Movie
The film’s expectations were modest and realistic, as the film was not intended to be a mainstream or commercial blockbuster. The film was aimed at a niche and sophisticated audience, who appreciate the genre and the style of the film. The film was also expected to perform well in the international market, especially in the film festival circuit, where it could attract attention and acclaim from critics and cinephiles.
Trailer
The trailer of the film is a two-minute video that gives a glimpse of the film’s genre, style, and plot. The trailer shows some of the scenes from the film, such as Soo-jin and Hyeon-soo’s daily life, their visit to the sleep clinic, their dreams, and their encounter with the shaman.
The trailer also shows some of the disturbing and shocking moments from the film, such as the blood, the violence, and the twist. The trailer is accompanied by a voice-over that says: “What if your dreams become your reality? What if your reality becomes your nightmare? What if your nightmare becomes your fate?” The trailer ends with the film’s title and the tagline: “Sleep 2023. Don’t close your eyes.”
Where to Watch
The film is currently available to watch in South Korea, where it was released in theaters on September 6, 2023. The film is also available to watch in some other countries, where it was screened in various international film festivals, such as Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The film is expected to have a limited theatrical release in the United States and other countries in late 2023 or early 2024. The film is also expected to be released on streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu, in the near future.
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