The Devil in the Room is a fantastic short film about the experience of hallucinatory sleep paralysis – a common experience that has been widely mythologised around the world.
Sleep paralysis is the experience of being unable to move during the process of waking – when you have regained consciousness but you’re brain has not re-engaged your ability to control your muscles.
The reason the experience has been widely associated with mythological creatures is because in some people it can lead to intense emotions and hallucinations.
The name ‘sleep paralysis’ is a bit confusing because this also refers to normal sleep paralysis – where your brain disengages control of your muscles during REM sleep to stop you ‘acting out’ your dreams.
The film is part of the Sleep Paralysis Project, which has much more about the experience on their website.
Link to ‘Devil in the Room’ on vimeo.