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7.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Bedtime Worries remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have a soft spot for the Our Gang shorts, you’ll probably find this one charming in that frantic, old-school way. If you hate kids shouting or movies that make you feel like your ears are about to pop from all the noise, definitely skip it.
There’s something about the way they set up this bedroom scene that feels so staged, yet so frantic. Spanky is clearly not having it. He just wants to be anywhere but that room.
The parents are doing that thing from 1930s films where they look completely exhausted while trying to be stern. It’s funny because you can tell the actors are just trying to keep up with the kids who are running all over the set. 🐶
I noticed Pete the dog looking at the camera a few times. It’s like he knew the script was going off the rails. There’s one shot where he’s just sitting there while everything else is pure pandemonium.
Sometimes I compare the energy here to something like Hustling for Health. It’s got that same vibe of 'let’s just throw everyone in a room and see what happens.' It doesn’t always land, but it's never boring.
The pacing is all over the place. One minute it’s quiet, and the next, there’s a pile-up of kids and props. It feels like the director just said 'go' and stopped watching the monitor.
It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a story. But watching Spanky struggle with his own shadow or whatever is bothering him in that room? It’s fine. Just fine. Sometimes that’s all you need on a Tuesday night.