Who is the Sleeper and why is he stalking the girls of the Alpha Gamma Theta sorority?

That’s one of the many questions raised by 2012’s The Sleeper, an unexpectedly diverting homage to the classic slasher films of the 80s.  The Sleeper doesn’t really worry too much about answering that question.  This is a film that understands that the old slasher films were effective precisely because they rarely provided any answers.  All one really needs to know about the Sleeper (effectively portrayed by Jason Jay Crabtree) is that he’s got a collection of tools, he’s surprisingly quick on his feet, and he can do a lot of damage with a little hammer.

The Sleeper takes place in 1981, a smart choice for a number of reasons.  1981 was one the biggest years when it came to the American slasher boom and The Sleeper does a good job of recreating the aesthetics of the era, right down to a freeze frame final shot.  Setting the film in 1981 is also an admission that most of the old school slasher films wouldn’t work in an era in which people are not dependent on landline phones.  As if to emphasize this point, the film has the Sleeper calling his victims before attacking.  It’s 1981.  There’s no way to block the number!  By setting the film in 1981, the filmmakers are able to avoid having to come up with an awkward excuse for why no one has their phone with them.  Even better, none of the characters are influencers.  Instead, they’re just college students who are trying to enjoy their night.

For the most part, the potential victims are all likable.  You don’t want to see harm come to any of them, which definitely builds up the suspense once the Sleeper starts doing his thing.  Because the characters are all college students with active social lives, it’s believable that people wouldn’t freak out about them suddenly disappearing.  I remember that, when I was in college, I would go several days without seeing some of my best friends and only occasionally did I suspect that they had fallen victim to a hammer-wielding killer.  I especially liked the character of Ava (Ali Ferda), who was sarcastic and outspoken but who, most importantly, never became a caricature.  Indeed, all of the characters seem refreshingly human and multi-faceted, even if they do conform to certain slasher stereotypes.

This film also wins major points for including a disco line dnace that comes out of nowhere but which is charmingly awkward.  The song playing is definitely more 90s techno than 80s disco but still, watching the cast doing their best on the dance floor was one of the film’s more unexpected treats.

Finally, towards the end of the film, Joe Bog Briggs (credited by his real name, John Bloom) makes a cameo appearance as a doctor and yes, he wears a bolo tie.  It’s impossible not smile at the sight of him.

Bloody but also witty, The Sleeper was a diverting slasher surprise.