Sandman, The

The mythical character Sandman was popularized worldwide by Neil Gaiman in his cult comic series, but Paul Berry turned Gaiman's view of the ruler of the dream world upside down in his interesting horror interpretation. There is no trace of Sandman's majesty and complexity in it. This Sandman is a goblin from the darkest nightmares, reminiscent of the character Corinthian, one of the dark creations of Gaiman's Sandman. Paul Berry depicts the childhood fear of dark corners, strange shadows, old houses, solitude, and darkness in his visually enhanced short film. It is a very impressive horror affair that manages without a single word being spoken. Overall impression: 90%. (08/09/2011)

Paul Berry's The Sandman is miles away from Sandy from the Rise of the Guardians and other similarly-themed fairytales. The Sandman combines the eeriness of Hoffmann's original tale with the artistic prowess of Berry's team, resulting in a densely atmospheric short with a macabre conclusion. In addition to the nice animation that plays with depth of image, I commend the visuals and the film's soundtrack. (07/03/2023)