A series of grisly murders are taking place across the Italian city of Turin, prompting the authorities to fear that a copycat killer is on the loose and emulating a gruesome spree that occurred seventeen years prior. Those murders were pinned on a writer with dwarfism by the name of Vincenzo de Fabritiis, who subsequently passed away, effectively closing the case. Now, Detective Ulisse Moretti, who led the original investigation, finds himself drawn out of retirement, and, together with the young Giacomo Gallo – whose mother was a victim of the supposed “Dwarf Killer” – attempts to unravel the mystery of these new slayings as the mutilated corpses continue to pile up.

Returning to the atmosphere and themes of his landmark giallo Deep Red (1975), 2001’s SLEEPLESS saw the welcome return of horror maestro Dario Argento (Suspiria, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) to the subgenre with which he had made his name. Starring Max von Sydow (The Exorcist) and featuring a host of splatterific, Grand Guignol set pieces courtesy of practical FX wizard Sergio Stivaletti, together with a pulse-pounding score by Argento regulars Goblin – who reunited especially for this movie – Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to bring SLEEPLESS to UHD for the very first time, restored in 4K from the original camera negative and accompanied by a host of both new and archival bonus features.

For thoughts on Sleepless, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Sleepless comes to 4K UHD Blu-Ray from Vinegar Syndrome with a 2160p Dolby Vision/HDR transfer in 1.85:1 that is derived from a 4K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative. The film was last released on Blu-Ray in 2021 by Scorpion Releasing from an older master that is said to have been solid enough with some minor imperfections, but we have never viewed it. This new 4K UHD release will undoubtedly prove to be the ultimate way to view the movie at home with unparalleled stability and top-tier delineation. The presentation is impressive throughout as it allows the film to look as wonderful as it possibly can.

This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with everything resolving flawlessly. Any potential print damage has been eliminated with rarely a speck or scratch detected. Clarity and detail are a marvel from beginning to end. Colors are skillfully saturated to bring out the nuances of the environments, the bloody makeup effects, and the costumes. Skin tones are natural with subtle facial features easily noticeable in close-ups. Black levels are deep with no observable crush, and highlights avoid any unwanted blooming. This presentation flourishes on the format and is sure to be appreciated by fans of the legendary filmmaker.

Audio Quality

This new 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix in both Italian and English that captures the intention of the film as well as the source will allow. In a nod to giallo productions of old, a somewhat frustrating aspect of the film is the decision to film with actors in different languages and post-dubbing to match the language chosen. No matter which track you choose, there are going to be some characters who are dubbed. This is a creative decision to accommodate the performers and not an issue with the disc.

That being said, the dialogue is crisp and clear, coming through effortlessly without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. We honestly lean more towards the English track simply to hear the voice of Max von Sydow. The music from Goblin is a major highlight of the experience as it sets the perfect tone while maintaining a pleasing fidelity throughout. The environmental effects are firmly defined from the chatter at the crime scenes to the breaking of glass and other violent developments. The track avoids any instances of age-related wear and tear or distortion. This track accomplishes everything that is asked of it. Newly translated optional English SDH and forced English subtitles are provided for the English track, and optional English subtitles are provided for the Italian track.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson deliver a really great commentary track in which they discuss the return to Giallos for Argento, how this fits into his filmography of the time, the reception of the film, the shot composition of the feature, the performances in the film, and more.

Interviews: A collection of new and archival interviews is provided in which the cast and creative team discuss their involvement with the film, working with Dario Argento, the legacy of the film, and more.

- Still Awake – An Interview with Actress Chiara Caselli (15:15)

- The One Who Saw – An Interview with Actor Stefano Dionisi (9:36)

- Behind the Smile – An Interview with Actor Roberto Zibetti (16:59)

- The Invisible Work – An Interview with Editor Anna Napoli (25:09)

- One Last Score – An Interview with Composer Claudio Simonetti (21:39)

- Bloodwork – An Interview with Special Effects Artist Sergio Stivaletti (19:54)

- He Never Sleeps – An Archival Interview with Co-writer/Director Dario Argento (18:31)

- Don’t Go to Sleep – An Archival Interview with Actor Paolo Maria Scalondro (17:06)

- The Cop and the Parrot – An Archival Interview with Co-writer Franco Ferrini (11:11)

- Blood on the Tracks – An Archival Interview with Production Designer Antonello Geleng (15:48)

- Killed Three Times – An Archival Interview with Actor Gabriele Lavia (12:32)

Final Thoughts

Sleepless is a fairly compelling throwback from the great Dario Argento that fares much better than much of his other late-career work. When you have crafted some of the best giallos to ever grace the screen, it is difficult to continue to reach that level of quality. Keeping expectations in check, this outing at least captures the spirit of his best work while offering some genuine suspense and shock value. We are happy to see an icon delivering good work when many may have counted him out. Vinegar Syndrome has released a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a sterling A/V presentation and a valuable array of special features. If you are a completist for Dario Argento, this is the best release of the film. Recommended

Sleepless is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.