Overview
A detective's mind unravels as he hunts a killer in the perpetual daylight of Alaska.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- brooding
- paranoid
- foreboding
- late night thriller viewing
- rainy day noir marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the remake smart and riveting, praising its performances and psychological reworking of noir material.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Will Dormer's insomnia and hallucinations are intensified by Nightmute's incessant Alaskan daylight.
Dormer's concealed conduct in Los Angeles directly shapes his choices while investigating Kay Connell's murder.
The homicide investigation unfolds in the remote small town of Nightmute, far from Dormer's Los Angeles police environment.
Walter Finch contacts Dormer and establishes a relationship based on secrets that benefit both men.
Films like Insomnia, and why
Zodiac
shared neo-noir atmosphere, morally compromised detective, psychological tension, and crime investigation
Se7en
shared psychological crime thriller structure, investigator obsession, and bleak moral ambiguity
Wind River
shared remote setting, police investigation, guilt, and mounting psychological pressure
L.A. Confidential
shared detective protagonist, compromised ethics, and noir-inflected investigation of murder
Movie Details
- Director
- Christopher Nolan
- Release Date
- 2002-05-24
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (5555)
Cast
- Al Pacino
- Robin Williams
- Hilary Swank
- Maura Tierney
- Martin Donovan
- Nicky Katt
- Paul Dooley
- Jonathan Jackson
- Larry Holden
- Katharine Isabelle
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Insomnia about?
- An acclaimed neo-noir investigation turns an Alaskan detective’s sleepless guilt into a dangerous pact with a murderer.
- What is Insomnia like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Insomnia as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Insomnia violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Insomnia as moderate.
- What did critics think of Insomnia?
- Critics broadly found the remake smart and riveting, praising its performances and psychological reworking of noir material.
- Which films are like Insomnia?
- Films with a similar feel include Zodiac, Se7en, Wind River, and L.A. Confidential.
- How long is Insomnia?
- Insomnia runs 118 minutes.
- Where can I watch Insomnia?
- In United States, Insomnia is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
