Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Sleep No More’s Keli Price

In the must-see horror film, Sleep No More, five graduate students are conducting a study to prove the theory that once you’ve passed 200 hours without sleep, you’ll never need sleep again…but as the hours begin to tick away, they each begin to experience strange and unsettling terrors. Friendships will be tested as the experiment quickly turns into a fight for survival. We sat down with lead actor Keli Price to discuss Sleep No More, his character, and his biggest fears.

PC: Tell us about Sleep No More, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Keli: Sleep No More centers around graduate students who conduct a sleep deprivation study in the 1980s and things go terribly wrong.

The first thing that drew me to the project was the script—it was unlike any horror script I’ve gotten before. There were so many elements that were interesting to me and I loved the fact that it was set in the ’80s. It had early-Spielberg and Flatliners elements and I’m a big fan of those types of movies.


When I met the director, we were on the same page. It checked every box: great script, great director, and great role! In terms of the character, there was a lot there for me to explore, as an actor. I had a lot of connections to the role, specifically his connection with his mother. She’s in the hospital and may be dying. That was a very big deal to me; I have a very close relationship with my mom.

PC: The characters in the story put themselves in an intense situation where they don’t sleep for 200 hours. Did you do anything extreme to prepare for this role? What was it like diving into the ’80s, a time from before you were born?
Keli: I did a little bit of research on the 1980s, but it’s very specific to what was going on within the confines of this study. Usually, when it’s a period piece, there’s more of the outside world, though, in this one, there’s less of that. A lot of my research was in the psychology elements. I studied psychology, so that came naturally to me, but there was a lot that I didn’t know or understand. There were a lot of scientific words that I had to learn since there were monologues in the movie that were filled with scientific jargon. I would stay in my hotel room and study to make sure I understood them. As you said, these characters stay awake for a large amount of time. I’ve done sixty hours before and you never really know what the effects will be on a person. So, again, I had to do a lot of research.

PC: Your character, Joe, emerges as the leader among the group. Which of his relationships was your favorite to explore and why?
Keli: That’s a good question. There were a few of them! It was interesting to explore Joe’s relationship with Frannie (Brea Grant), Dr. Whatley (Yasmine Aker), and Dale (Stephen Ellis). I don’t know if I can pick just one. Joe’s relationship with Dr. Whatley was an interesting one because he never really knows if she shares the same admiration that he has for her. You never really know if she returned the love that he gave her or if she was doing this just for the study.


PC: Great answer! There’s a point in the film when the characters are at a crossroads. They have the option to quit or push forward. Can you talk about that conflict?
Keli: Yeah! There’s a lot of guilt there because these are his friends and it was his idea to go back and redo this study. When things start going wrong, as you said, they question whether they should continue or if they should stop. It’s a heavy moment. His good friend, Frannie, is ready to leave, but he’s conflicted—he can’t say no to her, but at the same time, he can’t say yes to ending the study because there are consequences that they’ll all face if the study isn’t completed. It’s such a tricky situation, especially when he starts to see his friends in danger. It’s a fine line that Joe has to walk because these are his friends, but he also needs to look out for himself.

Photo Credit: RLJE Entertainment

PC: In the film, the characters begin to be haunted by their worst nightmares? What would that have been for you?
Keli: Oh, man! There are a few of them. I’ve always had a fear of dying in a plane crash. There’s a scene in Final Destination where the main character knows the plane is going to crash. That’s my nightmare. That and losing people that I love.

PC: The film is out now. What do you hope they take away?
Keli: I hope they have a good time, enjoy the ride, and have some laughs…and honestly, I hope they scream.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Keli: Welcome Back Kotter is my guilty pleasure TV show. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with it, especially John Travolta’s character, Vinnie Barbarino. As a kid in high school, I just really related to that character so much. I have the DVDs and I have a poster that I plan on hanging up eventually if my girlfriend allows it! [laughs]

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Keli: Star Wars but the older ones! Actually, even the ones with Hayden Christensen.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Keli: I have a bit of rap on there! I don’t think people would peg me as a rap guy.

Make sure to follow Keli on Twitter and Instagram, and catch Sleep No More on DVD, On Demand, and Digital HD today.