The Machinist (2004)

Genre: Thriller/drama        

Time: 1h 41m        

Director: Brad Anderson

Quick summary: Trevor, an insomniac lathe operator who has not slept for months, experiences unusual occurrences at work and at home. A strange man follows him everywhere, but no one else seems to notice him.

This film gives very much the vibe of a nightmare that you are unable to escape. You follow the main Character, Trevor who comes across as very unstable and is simply going through each day on autopilot, void of any emotions. He keeps to himself, aside from when he visits his regular prostitute Stevie. In the beginning scene, he tells her that he hasn't slept in a year and that he is always on edge, but tries to comfort her by saying, "No one ever died of Insomnia." 

 This film has an overall grey, sickly vibe to it that makes it unsettling which adds to Christian bale's gaunt skinny body. It reflects how drained Trevor is feeling day in and out, nullified of all energy due to his lack of sleep. Nothing feels right, something feels off as you watch him spiral into paranoia.  Someone is messing with him, leaving post-it notes in his house, stalking him at work, and feeding his friends lies; Trevor is getting frustrated with the thought of someone playing with him; the post-it notes being a game of hangman that slowly reveal the word during the film. 

You know something isn't right from the get-go as the film starts with Trevor dumping a body into the river, clearly in a panic. Almost as if his life depends on it.

Throughout the film, he is tormented by this. He doesn't know who is doing this and more importantly why. He suspected everything and everyone is out to get him, everything makes him unnerved and anxious.  As the film goes on, The story and Trevor's mind unravel leaving the viewer constantly guessing. 

The viewer is kept in the dark with Trevor, witnessing his Paranoia get more and more frantic as he becomes more confused about what is happening to him. Suspense is always high throughout this, putting you directly in his shoes as you wait for something to go horribly wrong.

The Cinematography creates this sort of close, claustrophobic atmosphere mirroring Trevor's own mind that he's trapped in. People treat him like he's insane after asking everyone about a man who Does not exist. But Trevor met him. He spoke to him. He begins to believe everyone is out to get him, setting up a cruel joke, and lashes out at everyone as his mind fully sub comes to his paranoia. 

Nothing feels real, you're unsure if what you are seeing is actually happening or if it is a hallucination. Can you even trust the integrity of Trevor's memory as you slowly realize something is not right and you are missing out on a very dark secret?

As the film slowly comes to an end, all the pieces finally snap into place in one horrific scene revealing the truth. 

I very much enjoyed this and really did not see the ending coming at all. I was always with Trevor in his confusion. Every second I was captured and pitied for Trevor's turmoil. 

9/10

" Right now I wanna sleep. I just want to sleep"

"A little guilt goes a long way."

"How can you wake up from a nightmare if you are not asleep?"