MovieChat Forums > Don't Go to Sleep (1982) Discussion > Special effect in the final scene...

Special effect in the final scene...

posted 10 years ago by brautigan-126-784250
2 replies | jump to latest

In case no one spotted it, the final scene has a very clever effect with Jennifer's ghost.

It's pretty clear, upon several viewings, that the actress playing the ghost actually appears twice in the same image: once in silhouette, and then just her face superimposed over the silhouette with a very creepy lighting effect.

It's actually kind of obvious once you spot it, and when you do, you have to think "wow," because this means that the filmmakers really went out of their way to make that shot special. It is VERY effective, and I can't say I've ever seen it done elsewhere.

So if you're one of those people for whom the scene has stuck in their minds for years, now you know part of the reason for it -- it's an illusion that very subtly stands out from reality, but enough that it WOULD stay in your head.

Anyway, check it out, and play it several times. It actually helps to focus more on the silhouette than the face in order to spot the eerie discrepancy between the two images.

I for one appreciate this film that much more for it. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKvk0Wh0YkU&t=91m54s

[–] snparks 9 years ago

I agree with you 100. I saw this film on TV back in 1986 and the only things that had stayed with me over the years was the final shot of Jennifer, since the movie was haunted by her, even though she appears the least on screen. That very spooky ending stands the test of time, evident when I showed it to my younger sister and her friend, which scared the crap out of both of them, especially since neither of the girls saw that coming. True art in suspense there. And to have the mother scream in such terror before closing the film out really adds to the fear simply because we're left with nothing more....

[–] dionnelee1 9 years ago

I agree completely. I saw this movie when I was little and didn't know what it was because I caught it at the pizza cutter scene. That ending scared me and I always thought about it as I grew up never knowing the name of the movie.