‘All The World Is Sleeping’ Non-Spoiler Review – A Deep, Yet Overwhelming Drama Led By A Powerful Barrera Performance

Next to Scream VI, Melissa Barrera (In the Heights, Scream, Carmen) has another film in theaters this month: All the World is Sleeping. In this independent drama, the actress portrays several women—all of whom have gone through struggles with addiction—embodied within one sole performance. I was honored to see the film late last month and again earlier this week.

In this review, I will be discussing All the World is Sleeping, written and directed by Ryan Lacen. There will be no major spoilers present, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion.

TRIGGER WARNING: Depression, drug abuse, and some domestic abuse.

Plot Synopsis

According to Bold Futures and Gravitas Ventures, here is the synopsis for All the World is Sleeping.

ALL THE WORLD IS SLEEPING follows Chama (Melissa Barrera), who as a young girl in New Mexico, strived to be different from her mother. Now in her twenties, she’s found herself falling into a similar cycle of generational addiction. This struggle then threatens her balance as a mother to her own daughter. As Chama tries to keep it all together, a harrowing accident will spiral her out of control, causing her daughter to be taken from her custody. With nothing left, she’ll have to confront her past in order to fight for a future — one that can either guide her closer to getting her daughter back or lead her deeper into this dangerous cycle.

Bold Futures and Gravitas Ventures

Discussion

As an indie film, All the World is Sleeping is well-written from the beginning to the end. Yet, upon a first watch, Lacen’s narrative can prove to be much to overcome. For a dramatic story involving adult themes such as drug abuse, it is necessary for the sake of impact. Still, the film is flooded with immense details and anxiety-inducing conflict upon conflict to a point that it overwhelms the protagonist, Chama (Barrera). It all begins with a car that she repairs but whose engine ultimately does not start. I found that it is not until the closing scene that viewers might not pinpoint where one act ends and another begins.

Additionally, what works more for this film is Lacen’s collaboration with the cast and the crew. With the endless narrative beats and Michael Garcia’s deluge of footage, Seo’s editing puts shots in a coherent, articulate, yet somewhat palatable fashion. For the most part, the storytelling is linear but has points that momentarily jump backward or forward in time. The dreamlike sequences where Chama enters an intoxicatingly numb state of mind or even the transitions where we see the opening of doors in one scene lend to a unique style of filmmaking for this specific narrative.

Also appreciative throughout the film are the testimonies of the different women in rehabilitation—Nell (Kristen Gutoskie), Shorty (Alicia Lueras Maldonado), and Gata (Alma Sisneros). Their prominent inclusions in the film help viewers digest the course of events in Chama’s life. Moreover, these inclusions of other women’s stories, albeit minimized to a degree, showcase the fact that she is not truly alone in her struggle against drug addiction.

Realistic Appearances

All the World is Sleeping‘s production pieces—the interior and exterior of Chama and Nevaeh’s (Adilynn Marie Menendez) home, the bus stop near where Leslie the homeless woman (Jamille James) frequents, the exterior junkyard look where the drug dealer (James Kirkland) resides, and even the interior and exterior of the rehabilitation clinic—may not look like much on-screen. Of course, the point is not to give off an aesthetic appearance via these sets. Rather, each is treated as if they, too, are characters. Klessig and Tuthill allow for a heaviness to keep matters grounded.

Despite the four walls that serve as a steady foundation, a leaking ceiling parallels the outside world that seeps into Neveah’s safe spaces from above, i.e. Chama’s addiction to drugs and its effects on her daughter. The woman also suggests this through her monologue in the opening scene. Likewise, this metaphor of the leaking ceiling is also something that happens to young Chama (Valentina Herrera) and young Mari (Jade Martinez) with their own mother figure. The junkyard set piece and its view of the mountains—and the clouds above it—from afar seem to indicate a juxtaposition between reality and a world of dreams. This is also a brief topic of conversation between Chama and her friend, Toaster (Jackie Cruz), at one point.

Gallegos et al’s hair and makeup are astonishing for the tone of the film. I absolutely love Barrera’s brown tips at the ends of her hair, as well as parts of her face during scenes where she portrays herself under the influence, or going through withdrawals. The eye bags make her performance even more convincing when paired with her acting and delivery.

The Crew Behind All the World is Sleeping

Micaela Lara Cadena, Charlene Bencomo, Esperanza Dodge, Denicia Cadena, Tannia Esparza, Melissa Barrera, Jackie Cruz, and Jorge Garcia serve as the executive producers of All the World is Sleeping.

Jade Sanchez, Doralee Urban, Myra Salazar, Patricia Marez, Carly Hicks, Kayleigh Smith, and Malissa Trujillo are the associate producers. Kat Sanchez and Naomie Germain are the co-producers. Ian Simon, Ryan Lacen, Sonja Mereu, and Anthony Baldino are the producers.

Jessica Sherman (Bates Motel) is the casting director for the film. Michael Garcia is the director of photography for the film, with Eric Seo as the editor.

Calla Klessig (Step Up, Thor: The Dark World, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Uncharted) is the production designer of the film. Kendra Tuthill (Better Call Saul, Outer Range) is the art director.

Allyson Traub (Let Me In, Paul, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul, The Night Shift) serves as the costume designer.

Pepper J. Gallegos serves as the key makeup & hairstylist, and also does the SPFX makeup/ tattoo work. Michael D. Bricker is the assistant makeup & hairstylist, while April Pando does additional makeup & hair. Alisha Baijounas does key makeup for the film.

Music Team

Emily Greene (Beasts of No Nation, Maniac, Wendy, Superman & Lois, Station Eleven) scores the music for the film.

Josh Ascalon is the supervising sound editor and sound designer. Seth Swaaley and Michael O’Connor (Love, Victor) are the sound FX editors. Greene and Dan Romer do vocals for the film. Romer also serves as the executive music producer.

Additional songs are courtesy of John Zarcone and Greene.

The Cast of All the World is Sleeping

Melissa Barrera portrays Chama, the protagonist of All the World is Sleeping.

Kristen Gutoskie (The Vampire Diaries, The Handmaid’s Tale, Y: The Last Man, Narcos: Mexico) plays Nell. She is a woman at a rehabilitation facility.

Lisandra Tena (Fear the Walking Dead) plays Beatriz. Luis Bordonada (Better Call Saul, Selena: The Series) portrays Santi, Chama’s romantic partner.

Jackie Cruz (Orange Is the New Black) portrays Toaster, a close friend of Chama’s. Jorge Garcia (Lost, How I Met Your Mother, Cooties) portrays Nick, a man working at the rehabilitation facility. Alexis Santiago portrays Mari, Chama’s younger sister.

Alma Sisneros (The Night Shift) and Alicia Lueras Maldonado portray Gata and Shorty, two women at the rehabilitation facility, respectively. Carma Harvey portrays Lucy.

Adilynn Marie Menendez plays Nevaeh, Chama’s daughter. Valentina Herrera plays a young Chama. Robert Romero plays Abuelo, Chama and Mari’s grandfather.

Danette Sills portrays Mrs. Dyer, the front desk woman at the rehabilitation facility. Jamille James plays Leslie/ “The Homeless Woman”. Stephen A. Eiland portrays Mattias.

Minor Actors/ Characters

Cory Scott Allen (The Devil All the Time, The Staircase, Class of ’09) plays Al Taylor. James Kirkland is credited as “the dealer”.

Ramona King plays Francis. Dave Edwards plays Dr. Bundy.

Jade Martinez plays a young Mari.

Roy K. Fox appears as Gus the mechanic. Manny Rubio plays a CPS Agent, while Kathleen Hollett plays CPS Agent #2.

Jaye Rosenberg plays Nurse Nisly. Naomie Germain portrays a kind nurse, while Susie Enoch plays a judgmental nurse. Michelle R. Salopek plays an IV nurse, while Meggie Cherilus plays a clinic nurse. Richard Reyna plays a hospital tech.

Angelina Garcia plays a midwife. Roseanne Baca plays an AM radio lady.

Julián Dodge is credited as “cookie kid”. Aymara Bustos-Cadena and Salomé Simon-Cadena play “Naughty Kids” #1 and 2, respectively.

Steven Hicks plays a drug buyer. Rito Villa and José Vásquez are credited as Cholos #1 and 2, respectively.

Mark Myers, Edgar Rosa, Mark Dominguez, and Marvin Kelly play law enforcement officers #1 through 4, respectively.

Performances

All the World is Sleeping marks one of Barrera’s finest performances yet. Unlike her roles as In the Height‘s Vanessa or Scream‘s Samantha “Sam” Carpenter, Chama endures a different kind of conflict within herself and outside of herself. Psychologically speaking, there is a lot we can observe from this woman’s perspective. The scene where she eats crackers and drinks fluids as well as her hospital mantra of the little details she sees around her give insights into just how much she is willing to suffer to get closer to the resolution of one of her problems.

What I find most challenging to watch is seeing Chama give up drugs to make life better for both herself and those around her. Barrera acts at her best here, and the only criticism I have about it is that I wished there were a stronger push to get her to deliver to perfection. Ultimately, this is a role that depicts most people who are at their low points, and the actor did a fine job with what she was given.

Supporting Figures

I would be lying if I said I have seen Jorge Garcia in many films and television programs. Compared to those who have actually gone through life having seen Lost, it is a rarity for me to see the actor on-screen. As Nick, he shows compassion, calmness, sympathy, and empathy that vast many other men need to possess. He does not get nearly as much screen time as I would like, but when he does appear, he displays these qualities so well.

In juxtaposition, Jackie Cruz radiates passion and sympathy when on-screen as Toaster. At times, it is evident that she has every good intention to keep Chama euphoric. Yet, the different ways that she goes about taking care of matters for her friend tend to be wrong. In the long run, Toaster serves as the drugs that take over Chama’s life from the inside out, while Nick symbolizes hope and change through rehabilitation.

Final Thoughts on All the World is Sleeping

Lacen’s film is a strong narrative that does not glorify drug usage but rather focuses on the short-term and long-term effects that it has on human beings. Consequently, drug addiction is shown to have a huge link to generational trauma, and while that is a spiral or cycle that eventually gets broken, I would be curious to know what else Chama has going for her. Still, the overall message is not necessarily that we get to see a happy ending straightaway. Instead, the film implies that we can find hope in making things in the process.

All the World is Sleeping is playing in select theaters as well as is available via digital platforms starting today, Friday, March 17th!

For more drama and independent film-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!