Insomnia (2002)
★★★½ — Insomnia (2002)
Christopher Nolan's 2002 remake of Erik Skjoldbjærg's 1997 Norwegian thriller of the same name was the film that confirmed his transition from low-budget British indie (Following, Memento) to fully-fledged Hollywood director, arriving with a $46 million budget and a genuinely starry cast. Produced in part through George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh's Section Eight banner, it was shot largely on location in British Columbia, Canada, standing in for small-town Alaska. For Robin Williams, it was a deliberate and well-publicised attempt to break from his comedic persona, arriving the same year as the similarly dark One Hour Photo. Hilary Swank was coming off her first Academy Award win for Boys Don't Cry (1999).
Insomnia (2002), Christopher Nolan’s atmospheric crime thriller, is a masterclass in tension, mood, and performance, undone by a rushed ending. Al Pacino plays Will Dormer, a veteran LAPD detective sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl, where perpetual daylight begins to erode his already fragile psyche. Opposite him, Robin Williams delivers one of his most chilling performances, not as a comedian or hero, but as a figure whose calm demeanour hides something deeply unsettling. The film is impeccably crafted for the most part. Pacino is at his best: haunted, sleep-deprived, burdened by guilt and the fog of endless sun. The cinematography captures the eerie beauty of the Arctic landscape, where shadows never come and secrets can’t hide. Hans Zimmer’s score hums beneath every scene like a low-grade fever, amplifying the psychological unease. And the story unfolds with precision, layering mystery, moral ambiguity, and personal crisis into a gripping detective thriller. That said, while the first two-thirds are taut and absorbing, the final act loses some of its momentum. The climax doesn’t quite match the psychological depth of what came before, it feels more conventional, even rushed, when it should have been devastating. For a film so careful in building tension, the resolution lacks the emotional and thematic punch it earns. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does dull the edge. If this didn't have such powerhouse acting, stunning visuals, and an emotional soundtrack this would have got such a lower score. A haunting, intelligent thriller that just misfires in its final stretch. Not Nolan's best work, but far from forgettable.
Rating: ★★★½ | Year: 2002 | Watched: 2025-10-27
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: BFI Player · BFI Player Amazon Channel · BFI Player Apple TV Channel
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Where to watch (UK)
Stream: BFI Player · BFI Player Amazon Channel · BFI Player Apple TV Channel
Physical: Amazon UK
Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.
Related on Movies With Macca
More from Christopher Nolan: The Prestige (2006) · Inception (2010) · Memento (2000) · The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
More with Al Pacino: Scent of a Woman (1992) · Cruising (1980) · Scarecrow (1973) · Hangman (2017)
More from the 2000s: Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) · Daredevil (2003) · Apocalypto (2006)
More thriller: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) · Angst (1983) · The Long Walk (2025) · Punishment Park (1971)
More crime: A Better Tomorrow (1986) · Angst (1983) · Stolen Face (1952) · Cairo Station (1958)
