“Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight 2020” is a horror movie about a group of teenagers who go camping, only to be hunted by a mysterious killer. The movie is reminiscent of classic slasher flicks and delivers plenty of jump scares and gory kills. It’s a thrilling ride that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
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Review
The Power of Vulnerability on Screen: Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight
Once upon a time, horror movies were simple affairs. You had a monster, usually supernatural, stalking and killing young people who made mistakes like having sex or drugs. The audience got scared, screamed, maybe laughed at some cheesy lines or gory effects, and went home. But times have changed. We live in an age of anxiety, where real-life threats loom larger than imaginary ones, where technology connects us but also isolates us, and where our sense of identity and purpose often feels fragile. In this context, horror movies can still entertain us with their scares and thrills, but they can also explore deeper themes that reflect our fears and hopes.
One such movie is Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight, a Polish production directed by Bartosz M. Kowalski and released on Netflix in 2020. The title alone suggests a classic setup: a group of teenagers go camping in a forest without mobile signal or adult supervision, only to face a killer who targets them one by one. However, the movie adds some twists to the formula and blends elements from different subgenres of horror: slasher films, body horror, creature features, survival stories. More importantly for our purposes here, Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight also has something to say about human nature and society that goes beyond jump scares.
Before we dive into the plot and characters of Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight, let me introduce Brené Brown if you don’t know her already. Brené Brown is a social worker turned researcher turned author turned speaker turned icon who has popularised the concept of vulnerability as a key ingredient for authentic connection and resilience. Her TED talk on vulnerability has been viewed over 50 million times (including by me) and her books like Daring Greatly have inspired millions to embrace their imperfections as strengths. While Brown doesn’t talk specifically about horror movies in her work, she does acknowledge that “stories are data with a soul”, and that by analysing the stories we tell and consume, we can learn a lot about ourselves and our culture.
So, let’s see what Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight can tell us about vulnerability, among other things.
The movie starts ominously with a prologue that shows a boy getting lost in the woods at night and encountering something that makes him scream. Then we meet our main characters: Zosia (Julia Wieniawa) is a shy bookworm who volunteers for a rehabilitation program for addicted teenagers; Daniel (Sebastian Dela), her childhood friend and crush, who is also in the program; Olek (Michal Lupa), a tall and muscular troublemaker who flirts with Zosia; Aniela (Wiktoria Gasiewska), an Instagram influencer who likes to party and show off her body; Julek (Stanislaw Cywka), an introverted gamer who brings his laptop into the woods; Andrzej (Piotr Cyrwus), their middle-aged counselor who tries to keep them on track; and Ewa (Gabriela Muskala), his wife who runs an art therapy workshop nearby.
The contrasts between these characters are evident from the start: Zosia is quiet but observant, while Aniela is loud but oblivious. Julek is geeky but resourceful, while Olek is macho but reckless. Daniel seems like the sensitive type, but also distant from Zosia. And Andrzej and Ewa have their own issues to deal with, as it becomes clear that they too have some marital problems that affect their work. The forest itself is also portrayed as both enchanting and menacing, with its tall trees, murky ponds, and shadowy corners. The cinematography by Tomasz Naumiuk captures the beauty and dread of nature, as well as the claustrophobia and disorientation that the characters feel when they get lost or separated.
As night falls, the group gathers around a campfire and shares some intimate moments. Julek confesses his crush on Aniela and shows her a homemade video game he made featuring her as a hero. Aniela flirts back but also mocks him, not realizing that she’s hurting his feelings. Olek teases Zosia but also offers her protection from imaginary threats, which she reluctantly accepts. Daniel stays mostly quiet, staring at the fire or at Zosia in a way that suggests he has something to say but can’t say it yet. Andrzej tries to lead them in some team-building exercises, but they soon devolve into arguments and pranks.
Then things go awry.
A mysterious figure attacks them, mutilating Olek’s arm and killing Andrzej with brute force. The survivors try to escape from the woods, but find themselves surrounded by more monsters that seem to be mutated humans or animals. They also discover an underground laboratory where experiments are conducted on living subjects, turning them into abominations. The movie switches gears here from slasher to sci-fi horror, which may not please all viewers who expected a simpler plot. However, I think this twist works because it adds another layer of social commentary to the story.
In a way, Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight is like Chernobyl meets The Hills Have Eyes meets Stranger Things: it shows how human greed and negligence can lead to catastrophic consequences for both nature and society; how science can be both a tool for progress and a weapon of destruction; how young people must face threats that adults created; how technology can be both helpful and harmful; how friendship and love can overcome fear and hatred; and how vulnerability can be a strength or a weakness, depending on how we use it.
Let’s unpack some of these themes in more detail.
First, the ecological aspect of the movie is not subtle. The laboratory where the monsters are created is located in a deforested area that used to be pristine wilderness. One of the scientists working there even says that “nature doesn’t exist anymore, only resources”. The movie portrays nature as a victim of human exploitation and manipulation, but also as a source of wonder and mystery. The characters who respect nature, like Zosia and Julek, are the ones who survive longer and find solutions to problems. The ones who abuse nature, like Olek and Aniela, pay a heavy price for their arrogance and ignorance.
Second, the social aspect of the movie is more nuanced. On one hand, Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight criticizes the adults who put vulnerable youth in dangerous situations for profit or ideology. Andrzej may mean well, but he also exposes his charges to risks he can’t control or foresee. The scientists may have good intentions too, but they also violate ethical principles and human rights without remorse. On the other hand, the movie also shows how young people can learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses to become better versions of themselves. Zosia learns to assert herself and fight back against her fears; Julek learns to value himself and his talents; Daniel learns to express his feelings honestly; Aniela learns to empathize with others; Olek learns… well, let’s say he learns something at least.
Third, the technological aspect of the movie is ambivalent. On one hand, technology helps some characters in practical ways: Julek’s laptop has useful software that helps him decode clues or track their location; Zosia’s phone has a flashlight that saves her life; Daniel’s camera has evidence that proves their innocence later. On the other hand, technology also exposes some characters’ vulnerabilities and flaws: Aniela’s addiction to social media distracts her from reality and makes her vulnerable to manipulation; Olek’s reliance on his muscles and weapons makes him overconfident and unprepared for smarter opponents; Daniel’s hesitation to express himself could be seen as a failure of emotional intelligence that modern society demands.
Fourth, the emotional aspect of the movie is what makes it resonate with Brené Brown’s message of vulnerability. The characters in Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight are not typical horror movie tropes who are expendable or interchangeable. They have backstories, motivations, conflicts, and personalities that make them relatable and sympathetic. They also have vulnerabilities that make them human. Zosia is insecure about her appearance and her recovery from addiction. Daniel is grieving for his mother who died from cancer. Julek is bullied for being different and geeky. Aniela is pressured to fit into a certain image by online followers who don’t really care about her. Olek is traumatized by his past as a soldier in Afghanistan.
These vulnerabilities are not exploitative or cheesy gimmicks to make us pity or laugh at the characters. They are integral parts of their journeys towards growth and survival. They show us that even superheroes like Wonder Woman or Black Panther have weaknesses that make them more interesting and inspiring than invincible machines like Terminator or Robocop (no offense). They show us that we all have vulnerabilities that can be strengths if we learn to own them instead of hiding them.
As Brené Brown puts it: “Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.” Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight may sound like a horror movie, but it feels like a lesson in vulnerability that can inspire courage in us too.
Of course, this doesn’t mean there aren’t some flaws or criticisms that one could level against the movie.
For example, some viewers may find the creatures too silly or grotesque to be scary or believable. Some may find the plot too convoluted or confusing for a horror movie that needs to be straightforward. Some may find the dialogue too wooden or clichéd at times, especially in the dubbed English version (which I don’t recommend). Some may find the pacing too slow or uneven, with some scenes dragging on while others feeling rushed. Some may find the acting too amateurish or overdramatic, although I think most of the cast does a decent job with what they have.
Moreover, some reviewers have criticized Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight for being too derivative of other horror movies and lacking originality. While I agree that there are many familiar tropes and references in the movie that may remind you of Friday the 13th, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Descent, REC, Stranger Things, and others; I also think that Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight remixes them in a way that feels fresh and relevant to our times. The characters are not just copies of old archetypes like Final Girl or Jock; they are more complex and diverse than that. The monsters are not just copies of old designs like zombies or mutants; they are more inventive and grotesque than that.
In fact, I would argue that Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight is an example of how genre movies can still innovate and entertain without sacrificing substance for style. By blending different subgenres of horror into a coherent narrative that balances scares and themes; by using practical effects and minimal CGI to create visceral impact; by investing enough characterization into its ensemble cast to make us care about their fates; by applying some social commentary on ecology, technology, science, youth culture, and vulnerability without being preachy or didactic; Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight shows us how versatile horror can be as an art form and a language.
There are some scenes in the movie that stand out as examples of this versatility. The sequence where Zosia and Julek explore a cabin and find clues about the laboratory is both suspenseful and revealing of their personalities. The scene where Aniela tries to seduce Olek to get his gun, only for him to turn on her and force her into a humiliating situation, is both shocking and poignant. The scene where Daniel confronts his fears and confesses his feelings to Zosia while fighting off monsters is both cathartic and thrilling. The finale where the survivors face a final boss and make a last stand against the odds is both epic and tragic.
All of these scenes are amplified by the score by Bartosz Chajdecki, which blends electronic beats, orchestral motifs, and creepy sounds to enhance the mood of each moment. In particular, the main theme has a synthwave vibe that evokes nostalgia for 80s pop culture (including horror movies), but also adds a modern twist that fits with the retro-futuristic aesthetic of some parts of the movie (like Julek’s video game). The sound design by Marcin Kasiński also deserves praise for creating some eerie effects that add layers of terror or suspense (like the distorted voices of the monsters).
In conclusion, Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight may not be a masterpiece of horror cinema, but it’s certainly an enjoyable and thought-provoking movie that deserves more attention than it got. It shows how Polish filmmakers can compete with Hollywood in terms of creativity and appeal; how genre movies can tackle serious topics without losing their edge; how young actors can shine in roles that challenge them emotionally; how practical effects can still stun us more than CGI; how vulnerability can be scary but also liberating; how horror movies can still make us scream, laugh, cry, or think.
As Brené Brown would say: “Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: ‘Who has earned the right to hear my story?’ If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us and hold space for our shame stories, and love us for our strengths and struggles, we are incredibly lucky. If we have a friend, or small group of friends, or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging by being authentic themselves, we are doubly lucky.”
Maybe Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight won’t become your new favourite horror movie. Maybe it will scare you too much or bore you too soon. But if you do watch it (and I recommend you do), try to approach it with an open mind and heart. Try to see beyond the blood and gore. Try to feel the vulnerability that runs through its veins. Try to connect with the characters as fellow travellers on a dark journey through woods that represent both terror and wonder. And maybe you’ll earn the right to hear their story, and tell yours too.
As Brené Brown also says: “Owning our story can be hard but not nearly as difficult as spending our lives running from it.”
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight invites us to own our fears and embrace our vulnerabilities as part of what makes us human. And that’s a lesson worth sharing.
“In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen.” – Brené Brown
Technical Data
- Runtime : 102
- Release : 2020-03-13
- Genre : Horror, Thriller
- Cast : Julia Wieniawa-Narkiewicz as Zosia Wolska, Wiktoria Gąsiewska as Aniela Turek, Stanisław Cywka as Bartek Sokołowski, Sebastian Dela as Daniel Czajka, Michał Lupa as Julek Rosiejka
- Crew : Bartosz M. Kowalski as Screenplay, Bartosz M. Kowalski as Director, Bartosz M. Kowalski as Editor, Radzimir Dębski as Music, Cezary Stolecki as Cinematography
- Popularity 27.827
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : 0
- Company : Akson Studio, Plan Zet, PISF
- Summary : Addicted to technology, a group of teens attends a rehabilitation camp in the forest, but a sinister force there intends to take them offline forever.
- Tagline : They died without internet.
