100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 47: Before I Go to Sleep

Director: Rowan Joffe
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Mark Strong

Description: A woman (Nicole Kidman) wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her.

Review: Christina wakes up every morning and has no idea who she is and what she has done over the past years. She doesn’t know who the man next to her is, while they have been married for fourteen years. Husband Ben tells her she was in a car accident and she gathers information over the course of one day. Then when she wakes up the next day, she has to start all over again. Ben leaves notes and photos around the house, to help her. Every morning, when Ben leaves the house, Dr. Nasch calls Christine to help her remember things. She has a camera hidden in her closet that she uses as a video diary. Dr. Nasch and Christine meet up and bit by bit Christine gets closer to the truth.
“Before I Go to Sleep” sounds really exciting and that’s how the film starts. You feel Christine’s insecurity and fear, because as a viewer you know just as much. The movie eventually falls into a repetitive mode. And the unbelievable parts of the film get noticeable.
For a thriller, the movie is rarely really exciting. This is also because of the setting. The house has no atmosphere. I do give a plus to the acting, which is of a solid level.
Overall “Before I Go to Sleep” suffers from a poorly written screenplay, which was adapted from a best-selling novel. They had good material, but eventually couldn’t turn it into something amazing. It was okay, but it never manages to grab the audience the way it should have.

Rating: 2,5/ 5