Short Film Review: “Sleep Tight”

Dir: Michael Seabolt
USA • Horror • 11 Mins

While Preston’s adoptive father thinks he is just going through a phase, his adoptive mother fears that he is haunted by his past. Are the monsters in Preston’s closet his past coming back to haunt him, or is he just another kid with an overactive imagination? One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a night no one is going to forget…

Director Michael Seabolt does a fantastic job setting up the happy family dynamic as parents Daniel and Kate put young Preston to bed. Each of the 3 main characters are perfectly pitched, yet there’s an unsettling feeling that something isn’t quite right with this picture-perfect family, leaving us to ponder, as the sleepless night unfolds and people reveal their true colours, who or what will leave the family photo hanging on the wall askew?

The cast are fantastic, although it’s the father and son who have a lot more to play with. Wes McGee as the father is clearly having a blast screwing with the audience’s expectations and young Mason Wells as Preston brilliantly balances a cheeky & playful performance with a scared & fearful one. 

Sleep Tight might have benefited from some additional world-building but there are so many brilliant components of this film all going on and kicking off that there’s plenty to enjoy. The build-up and suspense are done superbly as are all the little creepy elements sprinkled throughout the film. The wonderfully deceptive cinematography, editing and sound design are also used to great effect, drawing you in as much as they creep you out. This is all aided with some interesting little clues and touches within the production design that make for a fun second viewing.

Sleep Tight is a creepy and unnerving short horror film that’s both a lot of fun and very scary. 

8/10

Sleep Tight was nominated for Best Horror and Best Young Performer for Mason Wells at our 2022 film festival.

Reviewed by Philip Pugh