“The Signal-Man” is a first-person horror and mystery story by Charles Dickens, first published as part of the Mugby Junction collection in the 1866 Christmas edition of All the Year Round. The railway signal-man of the title tells the narrator of an apparition that has been haunting him. Each spectral appearance precedes a tragic event on the railway on which the signalman works. The signalman’s work is at a signal box in a deep cutting near a tunnel entrance on a lonely stretch of the railway line, and he controls the movements of passing trains. When there is danger, his fellow signalmen alert him by telegraph and alarms. Three times, he receives phantom warnings of danger when his bell rings in a fashion that only he can hear. Each warning is followed by the appearance of the specter, and then by a terrible accident.
This story has served as inspiration for the mystery thriller film Dying to Sleep (2023). In it, desperate to find a cure for her chronic, terrifying nightmares, Mary searches for the strength to find forgiveness amongst dark betrayals and takes a leap of faith in a reclusive Holistic Doctor, but as her clarity sharpens, she unearths the frightening mystery behind his obscure methods.
This is the debut feature film for the co-writer, producer, director, and actor Paris Dylan who despite his young age has achieved an impressive list of award-winnings in acting and directing categories. Patch Moore and Muneeb Rehman also collaborated in the writing of the screenplay.
Dying to Sleep (2023) is starring Eric Roberts, Dave Sheridan, Victoria Baldesarra, Dar Dixon, Roy Abramsohn, Jataun Gilbert, Maria Pinsent, Alex Keever, Deepti Kingra-Mickelsen, and SarahLydia Sophia.
The movie has collected a wide list of awards including the Gold Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress (Maria Pinsent) at the Hollywood Gold Awards, and the Jury Prize awards for Best Screenplay, Best Actress (Victoria Baldesarra), and Best Director Feature Film at the New York Movie Awards. Now, it is available on streaming platforms like VUDU and Amazon Prime Video.
Watch the official trailer for Dying to Sleep (2023).
