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Trailer

Insomnia

1997Movie1 h 36 minNR

CrimeThriller
84
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.2Rotten Tomatoes95%77%

A nerve-racking, relentlessly bleak thriller movie about the mind and crime, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · thought-provoking · adults

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, uplift or comfort.

Movies with

Story

No peace for the wicked

Detectives Jonas and Erik are called to the midnight sun country of northern Norway to investigate a recent homicide, but their plan to arrest the killer goes awry, and Jonas mistakenly shoots Erik. The suspect escapes, and a frightened Jonas pins Erik's death on the fugitive. Jonas continues to pursue the killer as he seeks to protect himself; however, his mounting guilt and the omnipresent sun plague him with an insomnia that affects his sanity.

Feels like

  • Psychological Thriller
  • Crime Noir
  • Moral Decay
  • Guilt-Ridden Protagonist
  • Atmospheric & Tense
  • Sanity on the Brink
  • Bleak & Intense
  • Character Study
  • Slow Burn Mystery

Cast

11 of 11

Crew

Directed by
Erik Skjoldbjærg
Written by
Erik Skjoldbjærg, Nikolaj Frobenius
Produced by
Petter J. Borgli, Tomas Backström, Tom Remlov
Music by
Geir Jenssen

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

March 14, 1997 · 1 h 36 min · NR

Released
March 14, 1997
Runtime
1 h 36 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Original language
Norwegian
Also spoken
Swedish
Made in
Norway
Box office
$227,569
Available in
11 countries

Tropes

Returning to the Scene, Let Me at Him!, Shoot the Dog +9

  • Returning to the Scene
  • Let Me at Him!
  • Shoot the Dog
  • Faux Affably Evil
  • Anti-Hero
  • Damsel in Distress
  • There Are Two Kinds of People in the World
  • Karma Houdini
  • Grey-and-Gray Morality
  • Light Is Not Good
  • They Look Just Like Everyone Else!
  • What the Hell, Hero?

12 of 72 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream Insomnia?"

Questions about Insomnia

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is Insomnia worth watching?

84
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 84 (IMDb 7.2 and Rotten Tomatoes 95%). Critics rate it higher (95 out of 100) than audiences (75).

Will I feel good after watching Insomnia?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 7 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

Is Insomnia in English?

NorwegianSwedish

No, it was made in Norwegian, with some Swedish.

What tropes does Insomnia use?

Returning to the SceneLet Me at Him!Shoot the DogFaux Affably EvilAnti-HeroDamsel in DistressThere Are Two Kinds of People in the WorldKarma HoudiniGrey-and-Gray MoralityLight Is Not GoodThey Look Just Like Everyone Else!What the Hell, Hero?and 60 more

TV Tropes lists 72 tropes for it, including Returning to the Scene, Let Me at Him!, and Shoot the Dog.