There is a movie in which a group of people are inflicted with a
highly contagious disease in which if they fell asleep, their heads
would explode.  At the end of the movie, the government sends a few
scientists out with pills that were reported to be the cure to the
disease.  It turned out that the pills were not a cure, but poison to
kill them all and rid the world of these deadly contagious people. 
What was the name of that movie?

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Request for Question Clarification by nenna-ga on 28 Aug 2005 09:56 PDT

Do you know an approximate year this movie was made or when you may
have seen it?  Is it b/w or color?  Was it a tv movie or one in a
theatre?

Nenna-GA

This took a bit of brain-wracking, but I'm certain that you are
remembering "The Alpha Incident," a grade-Z movie from 1978. I
remember watching this very late at night on TV a long time ago. The
movie didn't keep me from falling asleep, but my head never exploded.
Not yet, anyway.

Here are a couple of brief plot summaries:

"The plot involves some space virus that gets loose after the
government train carrying it gets into an accident. This virus is very
nasty; if you fall asleep, you will die. A group of four people come
into contact with the virus, and the government forces them into
quarantine while they come up with a cure. Of course, the people are
all disparate in their attitudes. Ralph Meeker plays some old coot
named Charlie, and he falls asleep and melts while sitting on the can,
reading a porno mag. The woman commits suicide, right before the
government arrives with 'the cure'. When the first guy takes it, he
finds to his dismay that the cure is actually cyanide."

Internet Movie Database: The Alpha Incident
http://imdb.com/title/tt0075662/

"When train conductor George 'Buck' Flower accidentally exposes
himself to a Mars-made biological organism, he infects the people at
the next train stop. If you fall asleep, the germ causes your head to
swell up and pop out your brains and eyes."

Critical Condition: SHORT REVIEWS FOR SUCKY FILMS
http://www.critcononline.com/short%20reviews.htm 

My Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: "the alpha incident" asleep
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22the+alpha+incident%22+asleep

I hope this is the correct movie! If not, please request
clarification, and I'll gladly resume the quest.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

Come on, you made this up!

I only wish I made this up - then it wouldn't be driving me so crazy. 
No, it's real...maybe it was a TV movie or TV show, but I am sure that
it was a full length feature.  I remember a scene in which someone
fell asleep in a corner and they put a book case on them...or
something like that.  PLEASE HELP ME...THIS IS DRIVING ME AROUND THE
TWIST!

Thank you, again, pinkfreud and thank you Nenna.

Nenna: I remember that it was in colour but I do not know if it was a
theatrical release or a M.O.W.  I saw it on television, but most
theatrical movies come onto TV at sme point. As for the year, all I
can is that I saw it in the late 70s or early 80s.

Pinkfreud.  You know, this sounds like it MAY be it, but I do not
remember a train station or the other scenes that you mention.  I do
**seem** to remember a number of people in a cabin trying to keep each
other awake, one guy decides to take a nap and dies and I also
**seem** to remember something about a book shelf.  The plots and
climaxes sound awfully similar, though.  I'd almost be able to go with
your answer, but I'd like to rent it first.  You just may have it.  I
will let you know!  Thanks.
MJ

If this is not the correct movie, I will ask the editors to have my
answer removed so that your account will not be charged.

This movie sounds awesome, I may have to rent it too.