This Christopher Nolan’s Psychological Thriller Is a Forgotten Classic You Need to Watch

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Christopher Nolan is famous for complex and popular films like Inception and Interstellar, but his 2002 thriller, Insomnia, is gaining renewed appreciation. While critics loved it – it has a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes – the movie hasn’t always received the same attention as his larger, more well-known films, and is now being rediscovered for its gripping atmosphere and powerful acting.

I recently watched this film set in a tiny Alaskan town where the midnight sun just doesn’t quit, and it really messed with my head! It follows Al Pacino, playing a seasoned detective from LA, who’s brought in to solve a teen’s murder. But things get really interesting when Robin Williams shows up as a local mystery writer. Pacino’s character is already struggling with not being able to sleep and dealing with some serious guilt, and that makes his back-and-forth with Williams unbelievably tense. It’s a total psychological thriller, and the sleep deprivation aspect just adds another layer to the already gripping cat-and-mouse game.

Unlike his later work, Christopher Nolan didn’t write the script for Insomnia. The film is a remake of a 1997 Norwegian movie, allowing him to concentrate on the acting and how the film looked rather than the storyline itself. One critic recently noted online that, despite being a part of Nolan’s impressive filmography, Insomnia doesn’t get the attention it deserves, calling it an overlooked masterpiece.

Robin Williams delivers a particularly memorable performance as Walter Finch. He skillfully transforms what seems like a gentle, likable character into a truly unsettling villain. Both audiences and critics have lauded his work, with one viewer describing the role as a “creepy masterpiece.” They also highlighted the strong performances from the entire cast, particularly praising Williams’ portrayal of a clearly disturbed character.

Christopher Nolan is preparing to release his latest ambitious film, a large-format IMAX adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, on July 17th. The movie stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya. As excitement builds for this new release, fans are also revisiting Insomnia, a reminder of the suspenseful, character-driven thrillers that first made Nolan famous.

Though Insomnia made over $113 million in theaters, its lasting impact is clear from its continued popularity on streaming services like Max. The film is a gripping and intelligent look at guilt, what’s right and wrong, and the toll that losing sleep can take – themes that still resonate with audiences almost 25 years later.

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2026-02-03 15:44