What happens when we fall asleep? Do we dream of sugar plum fairies as the fairy tales say? Or is there potential for something more sinister? Dead Asleep lays out the details of one of the strangest cases of recent history. It is thorough, honest, candid, and gritty. Jurors, journalists, family, friends, and lawyers weigh in alongside undeniable facts. This perfect balance creates anything but a sleepy film. 

The opening scene begins with a mysterious 911 call and we learn that a woman has been murdered…and that the person alerting 911 is also the murderer. Randy Herman Jr. killed his best friend Brooke Preston while in a bout of sleepwalking. Dead Asleep dives headfirst into the confusingly fantastical case. Facts are presented in rapid-fire alongside opinions from professionals and those close to Herman and Preston. 

Director Skye Borgman’s greatest triumph in Dead Asleep is the film’s neutrality. Facts are presented and opinions are given that represent both sides. Science, psychology, and law come together and create a fuller picture of the case than someone may have seen in real-time on the news or on the internet. A compelling argument is framed for both sides and rather than creating a divisive biased film, it is a film that sparks a conversation that continues long after the credits roll. 

The amount of real footage in Dead Asleep was impressive and thorough. There is a plethora of home movies, social media posts, security camera footage, and personal interviews. It creates a vivid picture of the case and audiences will be left affected. I found the security camera footage of Randy and Brooke’s parents’ interview with police to be particularly moving and gut-wrenching. There is some reenactment, but it is tasteful and done with miniatures that offered a unique representation of the crime committed while remaining respectful of those involved in the actual murder. 

This large presence of footage from the perspective of Herman and Prestons families and from police serves as a staunch reminder that this is a real case involving real people and that it is not to be taken lightly. This is no fictional horror film but a real story showing real people under real circumstances. This creates an environment of reflection and consideration on what is or is not possible in the realm of sleepwalking and poses a lot of very interesting questions about the human condition. 

Dead Asleep highlights the complexity of this unusual case. It laid out the complexity of not only the crime itself but the process of prosecuting and defending it due to the lack of precedence and the seeming lack of motivation. 

Dead Asleep is a highlight in the true crime genre. It is honest, makes no assumptions, and is respectful of the parties involved. Borgman’s vision was clear and the goal to create conversation was achieved in spades. I have not stopped talking about this film and probably won’t stop for a while. Fans of true crime better not sleep on this one.

Movie Rating: 9 out of 10

Dead Asleep is now available on Hulu.