The Sleep of Death

Lore & Background

The Sleep of Death was shot in 1977 and released in Sweden in 1981. The film's Swedish title is Ondskans Värdshus. It is an adaptation of Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novella The Room in the Dragon Volant.

Reader's Guide

The Sleep of Death is a Swedish-Irish co-production from 1980, directed by Calvin Floyd. It adapts Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 Gothic novella The Room in the Dragon Volant, set in 1815 at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The plot follows a young Englishman who travels to France pursuing the Countess St. Alyre, encountering strange characters and a series of murders. The cast includes Per Oscarsson, Curd Jürgens, Patrick Magee, and Marilù Tolo. The film was shot in 1977 and released in Sweden in 1981 under the title Ondskans Värdshus. It represents a lesser-known entry in the historical horror genre, notable for its literary source and international production.

Did You Know?

• The film is based on the 1872 novella The Room in the Dragon Volant by Sheridan Le Fanu.
• It was shot in 1977 but not released in Sweden until 1981.
• The Swedish title is Ondskans Värdshus.
• The film is also known as The Inn of the Flying Dragon.