Ryan Donaldson

At Dawn They Sleep is one of those indie gems that sneaks up on you, honestly. Ryan Donaldson really brings something raw to the screen—there’s this pulsing tension running underneath everything, like you know something’s coming but you can’t quite put your finger on it. The movie throws you into this world where sleep isn’t just sleep, it’s almost like a battleground. Shadows creep around, and you start questioning what’s real and what’s just some twisted dream logic. Characters weave in and out of each other’s lives, dragging their baggage behind them, and you just can’t help but get sucked in. Then there’s In My Life, which, I swear, feels like a total shift. Donaldson flips the switch and goes for something that’s more intimate, almost painfully so. You watch these characters stumble through heartbreak, loss, and all the messy stuff that makes people, well, people. It’s not flashy—don’t expect explosions or car chases. It’s more about those conversations at 2 a.m. when everything feels a little too honest. The movie doesn’t hand you answers on a silver platter, either. Instead, it lets you sit with the awkward silences, the regrets, and the small victories that feel way bigger than they probably should. Both films, in their own weird ways, dig into what it means to be human—messy, flawed, hopeful. Donaldson’s performances aren’t about being a hero. They’re about surviving, finding meaning, or just making it through one more night.