Before I Go To Sleep (Movie Review)

Before I Go To Sleep is a B-level thriller with an intriguing premise and convincing acting, but its inconceivable circumstances stifle its potential.

The Gist

In London, a woman named Christine (Nicole Kidman) wakes up startled in bed next to a man she does not recognize. He tells her he is her husband, Ben (Colin Firth), and that she suffers from amnesia caused by severe blows to her head. But who did this to her? Could it be her husband, her best friend, or her doctor?

What Works

The talented core cast of Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, and Mark Strong does strong work here. Kidman shows a wide emotional range, and Firth gives the film a steady, uneasy presence. Rowan Joffe’s script has an intriguing premise. It carries the unhurried pace and mysterious atmosphere of another amnesia movie, Memento, and the internal struggle of remembrance found in Jason Bourne’s story.

Before I Go To Sleep plays as a dramatic psychological thriller where the moving pieces keep shifting and what seems obvious rarely is. Joffe gives the film a European visual style, washed in grays and blue hues, with attractive countryside vistas. He knows how to make a good-looking film, and he gives us a star cast and a story that keeps the curiosity alive for a while.

What Does Not Work

The problem is the second hour. The first hour gives us captivating exposition, but the second hour overdoes it. At some point, Joffe should have let the story play out. Instead, he keeps explaining the same emotional beats until they become redundant.

How many times do we need to be reminded of Christine’s grief over forgetting everything? Or Ben’s emotional toll from living with his wife’s amnesia? Or Dr. Nash’s relentless concern? The resolution is also hard to accept. The big reveal is laughable in the same way Liam Neeson’s Unknown loses control near the end.

Pay Or Nay?

Nay. Apart from its potential and promise, Before I Go To Sleep disappoints. There are better thrillers in release, including Nightcrawler with Jake Gyllenhaal, John Wick starring Keanu Reeves, Gone Girl, and The Equalizer with Denzel Washington.

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