There are few of us who can say that they have effectively managed to live a life free of regret. There  tends to be some decision that we have made in our pasts, which still lingers with us to this day. That we carry in some form or fashion. It seems to be a consequence of living life. To amass this sort of emotional baggage in our travels. What we hope is that we learn something from these moments that haunt us, to keep their spectered presence from impeding too much on our days to come. For in the lessons of the past, are the keys to unshackling us from these exhausting intrusions.  

Enter Sleep Tight (2025) the latest installment in the original horror short anthology series, “Nightmares From the Beyond” from Whatsabudget Films and Eckland Productions. With the weight of an unforgivable moment waiting to be strapped to his chest, James Allen enters this dark tale about to make a decision that may, in fact, haunt him for the rest of his life. Stepping beneath this villainous  shroud, and running from the consequences of his actions in an act of cowardice and attempts at self preservation. What was originally conceived of and penned as a short story many years ago, has now been re-imagined and adapted for screen, and released this year as the kick-off to Series Two of this anthology of horror.  

It takes a simple premise and idea, and sets it in tragic and horrible contexts, but it still seeks to have a  complex conversation about responsibility and learning from our mistakes. And perhaps how only through the former can the latter truly be accomplished. Because, again, we've all made mistakes. Maybe even setting ourselves up as the villain in someone else's story. But those mistakes don't have to be given the byline on our futures. The film also looks at the dimensions of blame and guilt as well. The social factors and actors that have opened the doors for us along the way, and how those roles have played their parts in our fates, shaping circumstances. 

And so I ask, who is the real villain in this story? Is there more than one? Another way of saying, is there more blame to go around? Yes, James is certainly the most egregious perpetrator of wrongs in the film, but was he not empowered by a flawed system as well, as we see in the flashback he has to his previous day in court? Could there be others on the list to be facing the haunting presence that is Anna now? Has she been unleashed to seek vengeance on others who may have unknowingly put her on colliding paths with James long before that night got underway? Hopefully the film makes people explore some of these concepts a bit, but if not, perhaps they will at least enjoy the horror and performances. 

For me, when I wrote the initial story, there was no dimension to my thoughts on the subject, James was the bad guy, he was doing horrible things, and running from the responsibility and consequences of his actions. There was no nuance to it whatsoever. However, when I returned to the story, now 20 years  later, and was adapting it to screen, I found ways to see how there would obviously be more things at play, and more blame that would be able to be fitted to some, while there would be others who would be strapping it to themselves. And I would have to allow for others to have sympathy for a character that I was not willing to give any to myself. As Daniel Selk (Real Michigan, E is for Expiation, Stifle) who acted in the film, would help me to see while we were discussing the scoring he composed for us as well. 

James isn't a sociopath. He's a flawed individual who never believed that his risky behavior would ever actually have any sort of meaningful consequences or impacts beyond himself. Man sees himself as the center of the universe, and expects the universe to reciprocate. But it doesn't. However, still in the face of those very consequences, could lie an opportunity for meaningful change. For as we know, and love to meme, an apology without changed behavior is meaningless and nothing but performative. And so does James end up essentially penning his own fate with his inability to grow? Personally, I think there's a lot going on with these characters though it might seem fairly simple or straight forward. Or at least, I would hope that is how they come across or are potentially read. 

I also wanted to know what the actors who portrayed the characters thought of them, so I reached out to Shale and Lilli once again to get some of their insights on the matter

From Lilliana Henry & Shale Le Page

First, please introduce yourself, and talk about what being an actor means to you, and how long  you've been at it? 

L: Hi, I’m Lilliana Henry, and being an actor means taking on a role and thinking about it in depth to create entertainment for people and make them feel something. I’ve been a theater actor for three years, and started my commercial/narrative acting since January 2024. 

S: Hello my name is Shale Le Page and I play the character James/Jimmy. I've been acting for a little over 21 years now. I love acting because it gives me an opportunity to experience different worlds, life's and adventures. To entertain an audience and give them an opportunity to experience the same things as I. It's an escape if you will from the normal.