Sleepwalking

Joleen Reedy and her 11-year-old daughter Tara seek safety after Joleen's partner is arrested on drug charges. They take refuge with Joleen's brother James, who drifts through life and struggles to provide steady care. When Joleen disappears, James finds it hard to meet Tara's needs. Child Protective Services takes Tara into custody, placing her in a foster home. Feeling the weight of the situation, James makes a radical decision that disrupts Tara's life and forces them to flee toward the distant landscapes of Utah, where past wounds and new dangers test their bond.

Directed by William Maher, Sleepwalking is an original screenplay by Zac Stanford. The drama centers on Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson and Dennis Hopper in a tense meditation on family and responsibility. The film uses restrained, naturalistic visuals and spare dialogue to heighten emotional stakes and a restrained pace.

Awards: Sleepwalking did not garner major nominations or wins at the time of release, and there are no prominent awards associated with it in available records. That absence mirrors the film's status as a quiet, character driven drama rather than a prestige project.

Cultural Impact: Though not a mainstream hit, Sleepwalking adds to the lineage of contemporary family dramas by putting two generations on a treacherous road together. The film invites reflections on responsibility, memory, and belonging, without glossy cinema gloss, leaving a quiet aftertaste rather than a splash.

Reception & Themes: Its themes of parental failure and the search for belonging resonate with viewers who have felt powerless in the face of family crisis. The performances, especially by Robb and Stahl, hold a quiet gravity that keeps the moral questions close after the credits roll. The film invites debate about how much of a parent's past shapes a child's future.