A remarkably polished and thoughtful first feature by Norwegian helmer Erik Skjoldbjaerg, psychological crime thriller "Insomnia" is an eye-opener.

| Feb 28, 2021

It's nice to see a genre film from abroad for a change, but I would have preferred one with an interesting character or two, not to mention a livelier plot.

| Feb 28, 2021

It's [Stellan Skarsgard's] controlled performance that galvanises this otherwise underpowered thriller.

| Mar 29, 2019

Insomnia is the sort of picture big studios used to make when they still believed they could take audiences on a ride without rubbing their faces in digital gloss.

| Feb 6, 2018

Insomnia is occasionally a bit too saturnine, but should this filmmaker choose to go Hollywood, there's every chance that he'll be major.

| Original Score: A- | Apr 5, 2012

A superbly controlled actor, Skarsgård shows us an incisive mind shutting out humanity to fall into perilous complicity with his prey. A taut and distinctive example of genre film-making.

| Jun 24, 2006

Mr. Skjoldbjaerg's understated, elliptical direction keeps the material dangerous and volatile, with frequent small touches of the unexpected as Engstrom shows increasing signs of strain.

| Jan 1, 2000

An impressive directorial debut by Erik Skjoldbjaerg. He uses gray-skies atmosphere and layered emotional tones to build tension, mixing intelligence and mystery.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 1, 2000

Insomnia is the first shot out of the box for young Norwegian director Erik Skjoldbjaerg, and it's a real stunner.

| Jan 1, 2000

It's easy to make movies with external action, chases and shoot-outs. It is much harder to make a film in which many of the important events take place inside the minds of the characters.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 1, 2000

Insomnia ought not to be sampled last thing at night, but those willing to risk it will be subjected to a finer quality of nightmare.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 1, 2000