Nightmare Man (2006)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
19% of users liked it
(2,197 ratings)

A murderous figure in a demonic mask stalks a woman from her dreams before materializing in the real world to do some bloody damage in director Rolfe Kanefsky's nocturnal tale of night terror. Unsuccessful despite multiple attempts to conceive, Ellen (Blythe Metz) and her husband, Bill (Luciano… More A murderous figure in a demonic mask stalks a woman from her dreams before materializing in the real world to do some bloody damage in director Rolfe Kanefsky's nocturnal tale of night terror. Unsuccessful despite multiple attempts to conceive, Ellen (Blythe Metz) and her husband, Bill (Luciano Szafir), order a mask said to represent the God of Fertility. Unfortunately, their hope for a child is soon snuffed out when a demonic figure sporting the very same mask begins to pursue Ellen in her dreams. Increasingly disturbed by his wife's hysterical paranoia, Bill secures a room for his troubled wife at a nearby mental health facility. When Ellen and Bill's car breaks down in the woods en route to the hospital and the menacing figure from Ellen's nightmares emerges from the darkened trees, a retreat to a nearby cabin where Mia (Tiffany Shepis) is hosting a party with a collection of close friends sets the stage for a blood-soaked murder rampage that may or may not be the doing of a supernaturally charged killer. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Rolfe Kanefsky
Written By: Rolfe Kanefsky
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Aug 4, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Mar 18, 2008
Studio: After Dark Films

Critic Reviews

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
Intermittently fun and occasionally witty, with just the right touch of self-awareness.
Robert Koehler, Variety
If there were a 99 Cents Store for movies, cheapo pic -- designed more for lonely male geeks in their teens and above than the date crowd -- would fit nicely on the shelves.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The saving grace is the obvious awareness of the familiar tropes, coupled with a clear effort to use them in clever, surprising ways.
Brian Tallerico, The Deadbolt
As Nightmare Man goes more and more off the rails, you almost have to admire it for the audacity of its awfulness. After a few drinks and LATE into a horror movie marathon, it could be the perfect B-movie for you.
Dustin Putman, DustinPutman.com
Rough around the edges, but it is also frequently funny in its adherence to clichés and does boast an energetic tone.
Bruce Feld, Film Journal International
The plot is derivative, the dialogue cumbersome and cliché-ridden.
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
...succeeds absolutely at what it aspires to ... it's an amusing little "midnight movie" built mostly out of off-the-rack elements.
Adam Nayman, L.A. Weekly
All impenetrably dark nighttime shots, politely telegraphed shocks and limp, transparent misogyny masquerading as genre-savvy hijinks.
Amanda Reyes, Film Threat
A solid, whirlwind of a horror movie, with more twists and turns than a hula hoop competition.

Read all 9 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

This is from the 2008 Eight Films to Die for collection. Not a bad movie, kind of guessed who was trying to kill the insane girl, pretty easy plot. Great Slasher shots. Its the 2nd in the series of eight that I have watched and its better then the first film I watched, does that make… More
This is from the 2008 Eight Films to Die for collection. Not a bad movie, kind of guessed who was trying to kill the insane girl, pretty easy plot. Great Slasher shots. Its the 2nd in the series of eight that I have watched and its better then the first film I watched, does that make sense, guess not. But its worth watching.
Steve K

Low low low budget horror. Nothing original, but not bad all things considered. Knows its audience pretty well. Takes a somewhat surprising turn into Sam Raimi Land, albeit without his sense of kineticism.
Doctor S

"What did he do to you??" "The same thing he's going to do to you if you don't leave very soon!" "No - the police and your husband are on their way, it's just safer to stay right here." "You're wrong!" "Look,… More
"What did he do to you??" "The same thing he's going to do to you if you don't leave very soon!" "No - the police and your husband are on their way, it's just safer to stay right here." "You're wrong!" "Look, I'm actually getting a little sick and tired of all your negativity!" Surprisingly good little horror cheapie that offers a few genuine jolts and surprises, and then turns all hell loose with echoes of Evil Dead during the final 20 minutes. There is a big, and I mean BIG, drawback that holds its rating down - this thing is the DARKEST film I've ever seen. As in, many times the camera will point somewhere...and you can't see anything! And good luck following the chases and struggles. As a cheapie, pretty clear they decided to save on lights as everything appears to be lit naturally, which wouldn't be a problem if the whole thing didn't take place AT NIGHT. I didn't check the credits but I'm assuming they didn't need to hire any grips, maybe there's a "lightswitch flicking guy." The only film that could get any darker is the inevitable biopic of the Chilean miners shot from their POV. Much of the acting is pretty bad, but in a good way for this kind of movie. The characters mostly take intelligent actions when aware of danger, except for one laughable bit when Jack assures a man on the phone they won't leave a strange, raving woman alone, then immediately clears the room leaving her alone in the next scene! Standing head & shoulders above the rest of the cast is total pro Tiffany Shepis who effortlessly steals the spotlight (ehh, bad choice of words in conjunction with this film) with her no-nonsense attitude & sexy behavior. Within minutes of meeting her, she's stripped down to her underwear and pulls a giant crossbow out of the closet to investigate sounds heard outdoors. If the film could have kept up this level of inspired awesomeness, they would have a mini-classic on their hands. As such, it's about 20 times better than I expected, I just wish I could've seen more of it.
ken j

Nightmare man is another in the 8 films to die for series that started coming out a few years ago at the end of each year this one follows the story of a wife that is given a mysterious mask one day and later comes to believe she was somehow attacked by a evil spirit known as the… More
Nightmare man is another in the 8 films to die for series that started coming out a few years ago at the end of each year this one follows the story of a wife that is given a mysterious mask one day and later comes to believe she was somehow attacked by a evil spirit known as the nightmare man her husband of course thinks she is crazy and on the way to the mental hospital there car breaks down leaving his wife all alone he goes in search for gas thats when the nightmare man appears real or fake she takes off into the woods where she stumbled upon a group of friends in a cabin and they are all now in danger, I usually give any of the 8 filmes to die for a chance just like i did this one but it had very little good goin for it and alot of bad which started with the acting being so cheesy watch at your own risk.
Christopher B

Fun movie from the director of The Hazing. I was worried at the beginning that the audience would be forced to follow the moody, whining and constantly complaining wife (though she has reason, it's just not fun to watch) through the whole film, but thankfully the film also… More
Fun movie from the director of The Hazing. I was worried at the beginning that the audience would be forced to follow the moody, whining and constantly complaining wife (though she has reason, it's just not fun to watch) through the whole film, but thankfully the film also follows a group of goofy mid-adults. Fun deaths and Evil Dead homages abound in this constantly watchable horror flick and one of the best of the After Dark horror series.
Donna D

Such a B movie. It was trying to be scary, but the acting was so cheesy, and the story was bit lame, at least until the end. It's worth a watch for the curious ones.