Sometimes the scariest ghosts are the ones that come from our own mind.
Directed by Brandon Auman, Sleepwalker tells the story of Sarah Pangborn, (Hayden Panettiere), a grieving mother who is trying to hold her family together. Since the tragic car accident took her daughter’s life and left her violent husband in a coma, Sarah has been plagued by nightmares and haunting visions that cause her to sleepwalk. Caring for her eldest son, she seeks help from her therapist and support from her frustrating mother, Gloria (Beverley D’Angelo). However, as her hallucinations become more dangerous, the lines between dreaming and waking begin to blur, causing her to question her own sanity.
But Sleepwalker works primarily because Auman keeps the audience consistently off-kilter. In every scene, he increasingly blurs the lines between reality and the dream world to the point that it becomes difficult to differentiate between them. Some moments feel too nightmarish to be real. At the same time, other moments feel real but are not.
In doing so, Auman is free to explore the psychological damage that these events are having upon Sarah. Her toxic relationship with her ex-husband has pushed her far beyond what she can handle. His cruelty has left deeply rooted scars upon her soul that have broken her spirit and stability. Yet, without giving away any spoilers, Sarah’s hands may or may not be entirely clean for what transpired as well. As a result, her emotional burdens become a complex blend of the toxicity passed on to her by his verbal abuse and the shame she feels for her own questionable actions.
After all, “ghosts [may] come out of the mind but that doesn’t make them any less real,” we’re told.
But, in the midst of all of these questions, Auman also includes the very real possibility that Sarah’s struggles stem from paranormal means. Every attack seems to come from some dark place outside of her, as if stalked by an otherworldly evil. By weaving these threads together, Auman creates a thriller with supernatural influences that feels unique Is Sarah in the middle of a demonic battle for her soul? Or is she grappling with guilt from her own unspoken past? By taking this approach, Auman does a good job of keeping either possibility open as the film progresses.
Admittedly, there are moments when Sleepwalker can be a bit of a bumpy ride with its dialogue. However, one cannot deny how committed Panettiere and D’Angelo remain in these roles. Both veterans feel fully invested within these characters in their performances, especially Panettiere. For her, there’s something about this role that feels personal. As a mother herself, she seems particularly devoted to her performance, particularly in her character’s most difficult moments.
While Sleepwalker does have its flaws, the film’s performances and ability to keep the viewer guessing makes for an entertaining night of ghostly chaos. Panettiere and D’Angelo step into the terror with commitment that keeps the film moving well. Meanwhile, Auman makes good use of the opportunity to explore the effects that trauma has upon the soul. And these are the ghosts that prove most terrifying within the film.
Sleepwalker is available on VOD on Friday, January 9th, 2026.
