In the horror film Parasomnia, art student and record shop worker Danny Sloan visits his friend Billy in a hospital drug rehabilitation unit. While there, Danny learns about Byron Volpe, a convicted serial killer confined to a padded cell because of his terrifying hypnotic powers and the murder of his wife Madeline. Next to Volpe's cell, Danny discovers Laura Baxter, a young woman afflicted by a severe form of parasomnia that keeps her mostly asleep.
Smitten with her, Danny learns she is scheduled for transfer to Dr. Bhyle's clinic for medical experimentation. Determined to save her, Danny disguises himself as a clinic doctor and successfully abducts Laura, taking her back to his apartment.
The following morning brings immediate horror when a neighbor is found murdered and Laura attacks Danny while caught in a mysterious trance. When Detective Conroy arrives to investigate the neighborhood homicide, Laura kills the officer as well, convincing Danny that Volpe is pulling the strings from afar and must be stopped permanently.
Serial killer Byron Volpe uses extraordinary hypnotic abilities to control Laura Baxter and manipulate those around him.
Danny Sloan rescues Laura from a scheduled medical transfer, inadvertently bringing her into Volpe's dangerous web.
The final confrontation ends with Volpe's defeat, Detective Garrett shooting Danny, and both Danny and Laura returning to the hospital.
One reading of the conclusion is that Danny and Laura's intertwined fates reflect the inescapable nature of their shared trauma.
Armed with a handgun, Danny returns to the hospital to confront Byron Volpe, but the serial killer easily overpowers him, escapes confinement, and abducts Laura once again. Danny tracks them to Volpe's abandoned bookstore, where Detective Garrett soon arrives to find him. After a brief phone conversation with Volpe, Garrett falls completely under the killer's hypnotic command, apprehends Danny, and brings him directly to Volpe.
Inside the derelict shop, Volpe reveals his malicious plan to Danny, stating that instead of simply killing him, he intends to make Laura completely forget Danny so she will love only Volpe. Volpe begins hypnotizing Danny, forcing him to verbally renounce his deep affection for Laura. However, the deafening sound of a gunshot echoes through the room as Garrett, participating in a grim game of Russian roulette orchestrated by Volpe, shoots himself.
The sudden, loud noise shatters Volpe's hypnotic spell over Danny. Breaking free from the trance, Danny and Laura join forces to fight back against the serial killer, ultimately defeating him. Yet, the danger does not end with Volpe's defeat.
Detective Garrett, who miraculously survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound as anything more than wounded, suddenly turns his weapon and shoots Danny in the side of the head, leaving him severely injured and comatose. The final scenes of Parasomnia shift back to the hospital setting, where both Danny and Laura are now being cared for together by Dr. Corso, leaving the ultimate recovery of their minds and lives lingering in an uncertain, haunting stasis as they remain united in their affliction.
What does the ending of Parasomnia mean?
The narrative of Parasomnia deeply explores themes of control, agency, and the terrifying vulnerability of the human mind. Volpe serves as a manifestation of absolute psychological dominance, stripping away free will through the sheer force of his gaze and voice. This ability to rewrite another person's memories and affections touches on the horror of having one's identity erased from the inside out.
For Laura, her parasomnia already traps her within the confines of her own sleeping mind, making her an easy target for external manipulation. Danny's intervention, driven by romantic devotion, unfortunately mirrors this dynamic of control, as he abducts her without her initial consent under the guise of saving her. One interpretation of the ending is that true freedom remains an illusion for the characters, as Danny ends up comatose and Laura returns to institutional care under Dr.
Corso. The chilling conclusion suggests that escaping physical captivity does not mean escaping the deeper psychological chains forged by trauma and obsession, leaving the protagonists permanently tethered to the very horrors they tried so desperately to outrun.
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Where to watch Parasomnia
How
Available on
Stream
Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Shudder
Rent
Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Buy
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Listed for region US. Availability varies by country.
Parasomnia ending FAQ
Who is Byron Volpe in Parasomnia?
Byron Volpe is a serial killer who was convicted of murdering his wife Madeline by hypnotizing her into jumping from a building. He possesses extraordinary hypnotic powers, which is why he is kept hooded and restrained in a padded hospital cell.
Why does Danny kidnap Laura?
Danny falls in love with Laura during his hospital visits. When he discovers she is scheduled to be moved to Dr. Bhyle's clinic for medical experimentation, he disguises himself as a doctor and abducts her to save her.
What happens to Detective Conroy?
Detective Conroy comes to Danny's apartment to investigate the murder of a neighbor. While there, Laura attacks and kills him while seemingly under Volpe's hypnotic control.
How is Volpe's hypnosis broken at the end?
Volpe's spell over Danny is broken when Detective Garrett shoots himself during a game of Russian roulette. The sudden, loud sound of the gunshot snaps Danny out of the trance, allowing him and Laura to fight back.
Does Danny die at the end of the film?
Danny does not die, but he is shot in the side of the head by a wounded Detective Garrett. The film concludes with Danny in a comatose state, being cared for alongside Laura by Dr. Corso back at the hospital.
Where can I watch Parasomnia?
Stream: Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, AMC+, Shudder. Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home. Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home. Availability listed for region US and varies by country.
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