Christian Bale dropped a third of his body weight at no one's insistence to take on the role of a guilt-wracked insomniac in this haunting, psychological mystery. Like Memento and The Sixth Sense, this craftily produced thriller demands eagle-eyed viewing and pays off at the end. But, by that time, the movie will be well entrenched under your skin.

The Machinist boasts a desolate, monochromatic look that emphasizes the isolation and paranoia of industrial worker Trevor Reznik, who claims not to have slept in a year. The 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer captures that look nicely. It's intentionally soft at times, as if you're viewing the proceedings through Reznik's weary eyes. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack offers nothing particularly surprising but richly delivers the ominous, Bernard Hermann-inspired score.

The extra materials—which include a 25-minute documentary and a commentary track by director Brad Anderson—reveal that the movie was shot entirely in Barcelona, Spain, which wasn't without its challenges, as the story is set in L.A. or a similar West Coast metropolis. The fact that the producers had to shoot overseas "gives a little insight into the state of independent filmmaking in the U.S.," Anderson notes in his commentary. The track is a worthwhile listen, as he also calls attention to the clues sprinkled through the film.

Bale's career will no doubt soar as a result of his turn as Batman. But give this method actor his due, and give this movie a try. It's worth losing some sleep over.