Sleeping Bride is the story of a girl, Yumi, who since birth, has never been awake. A boy called Yuuichi finds the girl in the hospital while he is a patient there. A nurse remarks that the girl is 'Sleeping Beauty', and Yuuichi believes that a kiss from a prince will wake her, just like the story. Yuuichi returns to see Yumi every day, says 'Wake up, I'm the prince' and kisses her. Ten years later he restarts his daily ritual to see Yumi, one day she wakes up.
Direction
Nakata's restrained horror touch makes romance feel quietly sinister
Acting
Risa Goto's post-coma bewilderment is devastatingly specific
Writing
The ten-year time jump hits like a gut punch
Director
Hideo Nakata
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Nakata made this between Ring and Ring 2, and his horror instincts leak into every romantic frame—the hospital feels haunted by Yuuichi's obsession.
The film bombed so hard it became a cult curio, with fans debating whether it's secretly a psychological horror about stalking disguised as romance.
JP
