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Back in the 1970s, several patients in an experimental sleep study reported seeing shadowy intruders. These patients – and hundreds of others – died in their sleep soon after. Doctors called the phenomenon ‘Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome’. They refused to discuss the shadows. Now, a struggling late-night radio host (Dallas Roberts of THE GREY and “Rubicon”) and a skeptical CDC investigator (Alison Eastwood) have begun researching a disturbing new outbreak of shadow sightings and sleep fatalities. Could this be a case of paranoid hallucination, or are these victims literally being scared to death by actual nightmare creatures? Anne Dudek (“Covert Affairs”, “House M.D.”) and Mariah Bonner (THE SOCIAL NETWORK) co-star in this supernatural thriller based on true events documenting the authentic existence of SHADOW PEOPLE.
In the 1970s participants in an experimental sleep study who reported seeing strange shadowy figures died shortly after in their sleep. Afterwards doctors named the cause SUNDS which is short for Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome. They of course would not talk about the shadows these people have claimed to have seen.
The film then shifts to present day and we are introduced to a radio talk show host Charlie Crowe. Charlie begins receiving calls from a teenager claiming shadowy figures are out to get him. At first, Charlie believes the kid is disturbed but after the boy dies in his sleep Charlie begins to think otherwise. When others begin dying in the same matter Charlie realizes that maybe these shadowy figures are real so he decides to investigate.
"Shadow People" is a horror/thriller that is at times very creepy and terrifying, it is also a film that grabs your attention right from the start. You are immediately hooked, you constantly want to know more. Director, Matthew Arnold does a good job at creating the right amount of atmosphere needed and the decision to use real interviews really adds to the believability. I like what I have seen from this filmmaker and I look forward to seeing what he has coming out next. Acting wise the cast did a terrific job playing their roles, Dallas Roberts gives a strong performances as Charlie and it was great to see Alison Eastwood again, she is excellent as the CDC agent helping Charlie.
"Shadow People" is an engaging and interesting film that really gets you thinking about it during and long after it is over. It also gets under your skin, if you like to be scared then I recommend turning off the lights and watching this in the dark, this is definitely a film that sticks with you. I really enjoyed the film and it caused me to do some more research on my own about the subject matter. I recommend this one highly and even though I thought the film could of been a bit better in areas I still found it to be highly entertaining and pretty intense.
Released on DVD and Blu-ray, both come with Special Features that include:
Shadow People: Behind the Scenes
You can order the DVD HERE and the Blu-ray HERE.
Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment
*** 1/2 Out Of *****