Don't Go to Sleep
| Don't Go to Sleep | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Horror Mystery |
| Written by | Ned Wynn |
| Directed by | Richard Lang |
| Starring |
Valerie Harper Dennis Weaver Ruth Gordon Robin Ignico Oliver Robins Kristin Cumming Claudette Nevins Robert Webber Marilyn Coleman Tim Haldeman |
| Theme music composer | Dominic Frontiere |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Douglas S. Cramer Aaron Spelling |
| Producer(s) |
Richard Lang Claudia Myhers Tschudin (associate producer) E. Duke Vincent (supervising producer) |
| Location(s) | Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA |
| Cinematography | Chuck Arnold |
| Editor(s) | Patrick Kennedy |
| Running time | 93 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Spelling Television Warner Bros. Television |
| Distributor |
Warner Bros. Television Distribution ABC |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | December 10, 1982 |
Don't Go To Sleep is a 1982 made-for-TV movie that was produced by Aaron Spelling and Douglas S. Cramer. The movie features Dennis Weaver, Valerie Harper, Ruth Gordon, Robert Webber, and youngsters Kristin Cumming, Robin Ignico (fresh off of a supporting role in the film Annie) and Oliver Robins of Poltergeist fame. The film was shot at Warner Brothers in Los Angeles, California on soundstage 15. Don't Go to Sleep from the Warner Archive Collection has not been released on DVD.
Plot summary
Phillip (Dennis Weaver) and Laura (Valerie Harper) are the parents of Kevin (Oliver Robins) and Mary (Robin Ignico). The family just recently moved from Los Angeles to a house in the country, bringing along Grandma Bernice (Ruth Gordon). The family had just recently lost the oldest daughter Jennifer (Kristin Cumming), and they're looking to start anew without her and put the tragedy behind them.
Just as they move into their new home, Mary begins hearing the voice of her dead sister under her bed. Soon after, Jennifer's ghost begins appearing to Mary in secret. Jennifer hopes to kill off her family as an act of revenge. Immediately after these meetings with Mary, one by one her family members meet twisted fates. Grandma suffers a heart attack from being spooked by Kevin's pet iguana, which was released onto her bed one night; Kevin is thrown off the roof after retrieving a Frisbee; and Phillip is electrocuted in the bathtub when the radio he is listening to falls into the water.
After it is discovered that Mary committed all of the killings (at the urging of her demonic sister's spirit), she is placed in a mental institution where it is revealed to viewers through a flashback the fate of Jennifer. Riding home from their the grandmother's house, Kevin convinced Mary to play a prank on their sister, so Kevin tied Jennifer's shoes together. Apparently they were both jealous of the favoritism their sister was receiving as well as her constant bullying. When their car is accidentally struck by a van and begins to spark, all except Jennifer are able to get out of the car. Jennifer begs for help, but Mary runs away to inform her father of Jennifer's plight. Just as Phillip is about to go back to get her, the car bursts into flames.
As Laura sleeps alone in her bedroom, she is awakened by a sound at the foot of her bed. Jennifer's ghost pops up and in a sinister voice says, "Hi, Mommy!" and Laura screams in terror.
Cast
- Valerie Harper as Laura
- Dennis Weaver as Phillip
- Ruth Gordon as Bernice
- Oliver Robins as Kevin
- Robin Ignico as Mary
- Kristin Cumming as Jennifer
- Claudette Nevins as Dr. Robin Samuel
- Robert Webber as Dr. Cole