DEAD AWAKE (2017)

Summary:

Dead Awake plunges into the terrifying world of sleep paralysis, a phenomenon where individuals awaken from sleep but are temporarily unable to move or speak, often accompanied by vivid, frightening hallucinations. The film follows Kate Bowman, a young woman who begins experiencing increasingly disturbing episodes of sleep paralysis after the mysterious death of her twin sister, Hannah. Initially dismissing the incidents as stress-induced, Kate soon discovers a sinister, supernatural entity known as the "Night Hag" that preys on its victims during these vulnerable states, feeding on their fear and growing stronger with each encounter.

As the entity's attacks escalate and begin to affect those around her, Kate embarks on a desperate quest for answers, consulting a skeptical sleep specialist, Dr. Arlen, and connecting with a support group of long-term sufferers. She uncovers ancient folklore surrounding the Night Hag, realizing that her sister's death was no mere medical anomaly but the work of this malevolent force. Kate must confront her deepest fears and find a way to fight back against an invisible enemy that blurs the lines between nightmare and reality, before she too succumbs to its deadly grasp.

Keywords: Dead Awake, 2017, Jocelin Donahue, Jesse Bradford, Horror, Thriller, Sleep Paralysis, Supernatural.

Plot:

The film opens with a harrowing scene: Hannah Bowman, screaming in terror, is experiencing a severe episode of sleep paralysis. She thrashes violently in her bed, unable to move, as a shadowy figure looms over her. Her boyfriend, Evan, tries to wake her, but Hannah's struggle intensifies until she seemingly dies from a heart attack, a tragic and inexplicable event that leaves Evan and Hannah's twin sister, Kate, devastated. Kate, initially skeptical of any supernatural explanation, struggles with grief and the lingering questions surrounding her sister's death, which the authorities attribute to natural causes.

Soon after Hannah's funeral, Kate begins to experience sleep paralysis herself. Her first episodes are disorienting and terrifying: she wakes up completely conscious but unable to move, feeling an immense pressure on her chest, and seeing a dark, indistinct figure at the foot of her bed. These experiences quickly escalate, becoming more frequent and vivid. The shadowy entity, which she later learns is referred to as the "Night Hag" or "Mara" in folklore, appears more clearly, its presence chilling and malevolent. Kate's initial attempts to rationalize these events fail, as the terror feels too real to be mere nightmares or hallucinations.

Desperate for answers, Kate consults Dr. Arlen, a renowned sleep specialist. Dr. Arlen, a man of science, offers medical explanations for sleep paralysis, attributing Kate's experiences to stress, grief, and a neurological predisposition. He prescribes medication and therapy, but Kate feels unheard and unconvinced, as her experiences go far beyond typical medical descriptions. Meanwhile, the entity's attacks become more aggressive. It doesn't just appear; it seems to interact with her, its presence palpable, its intent sinister. Kate's fear intensifies, inadvertently feeding the entity and making it stronger, as she later learns.

Kate's research leads her down a rabbit hole of ancient folklore and modern accounts of sleep paralysis. She discovers stories from various cultures describing a malevolent spirit that preys on people in their sleep, often associated with a feeling of suffocation and a sense of dread. She finds an online support group for sleep paralysis sufferers, where she connects with Joy, a quirky and eccentric woman who has been battling the Night Hag for years. Joy becomes a pivotal character, serving as Kate's guide to understanding the true nature of the entity. Joy explains that the Hag feeds on fear and grows stronger with each successful attack. She warns Kate that if a victim fully succumbs to the fear and stops fighting, the Hag can cross over into the waking world and physically kill them, just as it did to Hannah.

As Kate's understanding deepens, the line between her nightmares and reality begins to blur. The entity starts to affect those around her. Evan, who initially dismissed Kate's fears as a symptom of her grief, begins to experience milder forms of sleep paralysis himself, witnessing the shadowy figure and feeling the oppressive presence. This shared experience forces him to confront the terrifying possibility that Kate is telling the truth. Dr. Arlen, initially a skeptic, also starts to reconsider his scientific stance. Kate's detailed accounts and the increasing number of inexplicable occurrences compel him to delve deeper. He reveals that he had a patient years ago who died under similar, mysterious circumstances, an event that profoundly affected his career and led him to specialize in sleep disorders. He now believes that there might be a supernatural element at play.

The entity's power continues to grow, manifesting in the waking world in subtle but disturbing ways. Objects move, shadows flicker, and a pervasive sense of dread follows Kate even when she's awake. Joy, having battled the Hag for so long, has developed extreme coping mechanisms, including a relentless effort to stay awake, believing that sleep is the gateway for the entity. She tries to teach Kate her methods, emphasizing the importance of fighting back mentally and emotionally, rather than physically. The Hag specifically targets Kate, knowing her connection to Hannah and the trauma she carries, making her a prime target for its fear-feeding agenda.

The climax of the film sees Kate, Evan, and Dr. Arlen facing the Night Hag directly. They attempt to stay awake together, believing that if they can deny the Hag access to their sleep, they can weaken it. However, the Hag is too strong, its influence extending beyond the confines of sleep. It attacks Evan, trapping him in a terrifying sleep paralysis episode that threatens his life. Joy, in a desperate attempt to help Kate, confronts the Hag directly, using her years of experience to resist it. In a tragic turn, Joy is ultimately overwhelmed and killed by the entity, a stark reminder of the Hag's deadly power and the consequences of succumbing to its influence.

Witnessing Joy's death and Evan's struggle, Kate realizes that simply avoiding sleep or fighting physically is not enough. She remembers Joy's earlier lessons about overcoming fear. In a final, climactic confrontation, Kate allows herself to enter a state of sleep paralysis, facing the Night Hag head-on. Instead of succumbing to terror, she defiantly confronts it, refusing to give it the fear it craves. She taps into an inner strength, channeling her grief and anger into a powerful will to resist. By denying the Hag its sustenance, Kate manages to sever its hold over her. The entity recoils, its power diminished, and it retreats, seemingly banished from her immediate presence. The film concludes with Kate alive, but forever changed. While the Night Hag is not definitively destroyed, Kate has learned to control her fear and resist its influence, suggesting that while the threat may always linger, she now possesses the strength to fight back, leaving an ambiguous but empowering resolution.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Jocelin Donahue as Kate Bowman
• Jesse Bradford as Evan
• Jesse Borrego as Dr. Arlen
• Lori Petty as Joy
• Brea Grant as Hannah Bowman

Crew:

• Director: Phillip Guzman
• Writer: Jeffrey Reddick
• Producers: Jeffrey Reddick, James LaRosa, Phillip Guzman, Aaron G. Scott, Robert G. Miller
• Cinematography: Phillip Guzman
• Film Editing: Phillip Guzman

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: May 16, 2017 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Running Time: 99 minutes
• Accolades: None