Documentarian and longtime wowlebrity Rodney Ascher (of Room 237 fame) explores the terrifying phenomena of sleep paralysis, “a condition in which people regain consciousness after being asleep but are unable to move or cry out. Typically these states are accompanied by horrifying noises and visions of something menacing in the room.”

I’m a bit of an expert on the subject, myself, as my sister was tormented for YEARS by our dead stepmother who tried dragging her to hell at least once a week. And, oh, the stories we’d hear around the dinner table.

Terrible affliction to have. Just terrible.

Before The Nightmare‘s screening later today at SXSW, Gravitas Ventures has announced they will be releasing it in North America in select theaters and VOD on June 5. Condragulations! From the press release:

THE NIGHTMARE’S subjects hail from different backgrounds and walks of life, but share eerily similar visions of malevolent, near-human beings that grow increasingly aggressive the longer the sleep paralysis recurs. Are these just random hallucinations or something more? Rational explanations get challenged by the similarities of the “shadow people” multiple subjects describe looming over them. Ascher, who has first hand knowledge of sleep paralysis, brings the full intensity of this experience to the screen while maintaining empathy and respect for his subjects. As the film unfolds, distinctions between the documentary and horror genres fade as do easy lines between reality and the imagination.

(via Bloody Disgusting)