Sleep at Your Peril as ‘Night Terror’ Comes to Digital

Grieving teenager Anna’s escape to her grandmother’s Florida home becomes a descent into horror in the new trailer for Night Terror, which arrives on digital platforms on 14 July from Signature Entertainment. After her parents’ sudden death, Anna leaves New York in search of solace, only to find herself drawn into a malicious supernatural force born from guilt and violence.

Isolated and longing for connection, Anna befriends two local teens whose boredom leads to a brutal prank. Their act of cruelty triggers the wrath of Mr Sandman, the restless spirit of a child who preys upon schoolyard bullies. By night, he invades dreams; by dawn, he devours his victims’ eyes. To save herself, Anna must confront the unforgivable deed that summoned this entity and break the curse before she too becomes a ghastly feast.

The trailer for Night Terror hones in on the film’s potent mix of psychological dread and visceral horror. Quick cuts reveal Anna’s trembling face illuminated by moonlight, her tearful confession echoing through echoing hallways, and fleeting glimpses of a pale, eyeless spectre stalking playgrounds. A distorted lullaby underscores each scene, its fractured melody hinting at the tormented child at the centre of the film. Key moments include Anna’s desperate plea, “I never wanted this,” contrasted with the sickening crunch of bone, and a final shot of a single eyeball rolling across wet ground. Director Colin Tilley’s background in music videos is evident in every frame, as lighting shifts from warm domestic interiors to chilly, shadowed exteriors with cinematic precision.

Night Terror marks the feature debut of Colin Tilley, whose previous work includes music videos for high-profile artists. He co-writes the screenplay with Elisa Victoria, adapting her own graphic novel Mr Sandman alongside Michael Tully. The cast is anchored by Whitney Peak as Anna, drawing on her experience in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, while S Epatha Merkerson brings gravitas as Anna’s stern grandmother. Finn Bennett appears as the school bully tormented by his own misdeeds, and Golda Rosheuvel delivers a haunting turn as the grandmother’s enigmatic neighbour.

Behind the camera, cinematographer Adam Frisch captures the sultry Florida heat and the eerie glow of moonlit nights, while editor David Hicks balances tension with jolting shocks. The score by composer Nathan Halpern merges piano motifs and industrial percussion to reflect the film’s collision of innocence and brutality.

As Night Terror will be available on all major digital platforms from 14 July. See the trailer below for an idea of what to expect.

Night Terror trailer