THIS PROCESS MIGHT FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE…
After years of painstaking development, Racheal Cain’s Somnium — an eerie blend of sci-fi and horror — emerges as a dark, surreal journey. Yellow Veil Pictures has officially confirmed that Cain’s long-awaited debut feature will hit select theaters starting August 28, with streaming platforms set to host the film on September 9. The journey to bring Somnium to life, however, has been as unconventional and labyrinthine as the nightmarish world the film inhabits.
According to the official plot synopsis: At the experimental sleep clinic Somnium, patients undergo a cutting-edge procedure designed to make dreams come to life. While the results are extraordinary, the side effects can be devastating. Participants risk experiencing hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, and sleep paralysis. Some lose their grip on reality entirely, unable to distinguish dreams from waking life. As the boundary between the two blurs, the patients find themselves trapped in a cycle of endless nightmares that threaten their sense of self and sanity.
Cain, a director whose career has been defined by an unyielding passion for the macabre and the avant-garde, began work on Somnium’s script back in 2011. It was not until 2018 that the film gained significant traction through a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign that catalyzed its production. The film was shot in two distinct phases: the ethereal, haunting flashback sequences were filmed in 2018, while the more grounded, contemporary scenes followed four years later, in 2021 and 2022. The result is a chilling narrative that unfolds through the lenses of both memory and reality.
Premiering at the 2024 Chattanooga Film Festival, Somnium quickly established itself as a must-see film, winning the Audience Award and securing the Silver Audience Award at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival. Lead actress Chloë Levine (The Sacrifice Game, “The OA“), delivered a performance that earned her the Best Actress Award at FilmQuest. Critics have lauded her portrayal, alongside the film’s haunting visuals and unsettling atmosphere.
“It feels surreal,” Cain reflected ahead of the theatrical release. “I couldn’t have dreamt Somnium would end up in theaters just a few miles from where I started writing it all those years ago. This film has clawed its way into existence over the last decade, and I can only hope viewers find it was worth the wait.”
The film’s unsettling world is populated by a talented ensemble cast. Leading the way is Levine, whose character is thrust into a strange and terrifying dreamscape. Joining her are Peter Vack (Mozart in the Jungle), Will Peltz (Unfriended), and Johnathon Schaech (Suitable Flesh, “Blue Ridge: The Series“). The cast is rounded out by Grace Van Dien, whose breakout role in Stranger Things has earned her a growing fanbase.
For those who want to experience the madness firsthand, Somnium will make its theatrical debut on August 29 at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles, with an advance screening on August 28. The film will also play in New York City at Roxy Cinema starting September 6. For audiences across North America, Somnium will be available for digital rental or purchase beginning September 9 on platforms like Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.
In an era where independent films often struggle to find an audience, Somnium stands out as a triumph of perseverance and creative vision. It’s a film that has lived through years of labor and heartache, yet emerges as a compelling, truly unique addition to the horror genre.
