Review: Somnium — A Mesmerizing Descent into the Darkest Corners of the Mind

In Somnium, writer-director Racheal Cain invites viewers into a dreamscape where fantasy and fear collide — and the results are as haunting as they are hypnotic.

Set in the shadowy confines of an experimental sleep clinic, Somnium promises patients the chance to make their dreams real. But as the narrative unravels, that promise curdles into a chilling curse. Hallucinations blur into waking life, paranoia festers, and the line between reality and nightmare dissolves completely. Cain’s script deftly balances the slow-burn tension of classic psychological thrillers with the sensory disorientation of high-concept sci-fi, keeping the audience guessing long after the credits roll.

Chloe Levine from The Sacrifice Game delivers a magnetic performance as the clinic’s newest patient, her vulnerability steadily giving way to terror as the dream experiments spiral out of control. Will Peltz from Unfriended and Grace Van Dien from Stranger Things add layers of intrigue, their characters shifting from allies to enigmas in a way that deepens the film’s mystery.

Visually, Somnium is a masterclass in atmosphere. Stark clinical interiors dissolve into surreal, color-soaked dream sequences that feel equal parts beautiful and menacing. The production design becomes a character in itself — a labyrinth where safety is an illusion.

While the film’s pacing may test those seeking constant action, patient viewers will find themselves rewarded with an ending that is as thought-provoking as it is unsettling. Cain doesn’t simply ask what if dreams were real? — she demands we consider the cost of such a gift.

Somnium is a rare sci-fi thriller that thrives on mood, ambiguity, and psychological depth. It’s not just a story about nightmares; it’s a story about the human mind’s fragile boundaries — and how easily they can shatter.

Available on demand in the UK and Ireland, Somnium will leave you questioning what’s real long after you’ve turned off the screen.