Don’t Go to Sleep

Don’t Go to Sleep

Year: 1982

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Richard Lang

TV MovieHorrorHorror the undead and monster classicsIntense violence and sexual transgressionTerrifying haunted and supernatural horror

Mary is convinced something lives under her bed—and she’s right. A year after her younger sister dies in a car crash, Mary begins seeing vivid visions of the dead girl. At the same time, the family home is plagued by unsettling phenomena, turning every room into a source of dread and mystery.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Don’t Go to Sleep (1982)

Trace every key event in Don’t Go to Sleep (1982) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Move into a new home with Grandma Bernice

A family of four—Phillip, Laura, Kevin, and Mary—moves into a new house, hoping for a fresh start. They are accompanied by Laura's mother, Grandma Bernice, whom she alone seems to care for. They carry the sorrow of their late daughter Jennifer as they try to begin again.

Move-in day New home
2

Mary hears her sister's voice from beneath the bed

Shortly after moving in, Mary begins hearing what sounds like dead Jennifer calling from beneath the bed. When she investigates, she finds a ghostly trace of her sister. The encounter foreshadows Jennifer's return and the danger looming over the family.

Night Mary's bedroom
3

Jennifer returns as a ghost

Jennifer appears to Mary in secret, revealing a murderous intent to kill the family except Mary. The ghost's presence unsettles the household and sows fear and secrecy. Mary becomes the only person who seems to retain some connection to Jennifer.

Night House
4

Iguana triggers Grandma Bernice's death

Kevin's pet iguana ends up in Grandma Bernice's bed, startling the elderly woman. The sudden shock triggers Bernice's fatal heart attack. This tragedy marks the first in a chain of escalating misfortunes around the family.

Soon after haunting begins Grandma Bernice's room
5

Kevin's deadly fall from the roof

Kevin tries to retrieve a Frisbee from the roof and suffers a deadly fall. The accident seems linked to the mounting supernatural tension surrounding Jennifer. The family begins to realize something is targeting them.

Evening House roof
6

Phillip's bath-time electrocution

The radio Phillip listens to in the bathtub shorts out and electrocutes him, killing him in the moment. Laura and Mary bear witness as fear and confusion take over the house. The patriarch's death destabilizes the already-fragile family.

Evening Bathroom
7

Laura's escape and injury

Laura barely escapes the house's deadly events, injuring her arm in the process. With Phillip gone and Kevin and Mary altered by tragedy, the remaining members struggle to understand what's happening. Jennifer's presence grows stronger as the house tightens around them.

Shortly after House
8

Mary is institutionalized

Believing she may have killed the family or be responsible for the horrors, Mary is placed in a mental institution. While there, she experiences a flashback that traces Jennifer's fate and the car crash that sealed the tragedy.

Soon after events Mental institution
9

The car crash flashback

In a remembered episode, Mary and Kevin persuade Jennifer to join in a prank by tying her shoelaces together. A van collides with their car, Jennifer dies in the ensuing fire, and Mary and Kevin escape. Phillip is unable to rescue Jennifer before the car bursts into flames.

Flashback Road on the way home from Grandmother's house
10

Mary claims to be Jennifer

Back in the present, Mary asserts that she is actually Jennifer, claiming the deceased sister has possessed her living self. This twist reframes the haunting as Jennifer's return rather than a simple act by Mary.

Present Family home
11

Final haunting: Jennifer's ghost to Laura

In the final moments, Jennifer's ghost appears at the foot of Laura's bed and says 'Hi, Mommy.' The scene ends with Laura's terrified screams, implying the haunting will persist beyond the events shown.

Ending Laura's bedroom

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:28

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Don’t Go to Sleep Summary

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Don’t Go to Sleep Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Don’t Go to Sleep

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