Wake Up – Movie Review (3/5)

WAKE UP is a new RKSS Survival Horror Movie. It has a really interesting core plot, but it definitely lacks execution. Having said that, the villain isn’t an issue. He’s brilliant, and I want more movies with him. Read our full Wake Up movie review here!

WAKE UP is a new horror movie with a survival plot. Those movies usually work pretty well for me as long as the characters are somewhat interesting and the villain is believable and memorable. While all the characters are okay, the villain makes this movie worth watching.

I want to manifest a whole franchise of movies with him. He is an actual beast, and I never rooted for him, but he is the stuff of nightmares. If that isn’t perfect for a survival horror movie, then I don’t know what is! The runtime is just 80 blood-soaked minutes.

Continue reading our Wake Up movie review below. Find it in Theaters on April 4, 2025.

Hunting activists in IKEA-wannabe

In Wake Up, we end up watching a group of young activists being hunted in an IKEA-like store. Their intention is to make an environmental statement. Something they want to do by vandalizing a home superstore at night when it’s closed.

Of course, their plan goes wrong in just about every way. They completely forget the dangers of security guards working the night shift. In fact, it seems like it isn’t even something they truly consider, which seems odd.

You’ll get used to this. Feeling there is a lot not considered by this activist group, I mean.

Having said that, I do believe it’s the point. These activists are young and not really too focused on the issues of the world. Sure, they attack this furniture superstore because their products are directly responsible for ruining huge chunks of the rainforest.

However, while claiming to vandalize to focus on animals being hurt, they also throw around animal blood and have a food fight with meatballs, which is another obvious IKEA reference.

A lot of blood on the store floor

While their hearts may be in the right place, these young activists are just having fun. Something that will become very apparent as the story unfolds. Basically, most of these kids come from wealthy families and are bored.

They want to feel important and make a difference, so they’ve chosen a very specific thing to be activists for. And still, they’re not even close to going the distance. Again, this is part of the plot. A social commentary and satire.

Not in an attempt to go after activists, but rather saying, If you’re going to do it, then know what you’re about!

The villain, who will hunt and kill these activists, knows what he’s about. He’s a hunter, and he goes full-Rambo. He builds his own traps and weapons from products in the story. It’s creative and entertaining.

Also, it’s extremely bloody, and blood is slippery on a store floor, which makes it more tricky.

Turlough Convery is a brilliant villain

The villain in Wake Up is the deranged security guard, Kevin, who’s already close to losing his job. In order to stay on, he is forced to work nights. Kevin is portrayed by Turlough Convery, and I would love to see both a prequel and spin-offs.

Whatever could ensure that Wake Up‘s villain, personified by Turlough Convery, can continue.

You may recognize Turlough Convery from the brilliant Saint Maud, House of the Dragon, Killing Eve, Black Mirror, or the Resident Evil series. In Wake Up, he alone is enough reason to watch this survival horror movie.

Turlough Convery’s character, Kevin, has a passion for primitive hunting that makes for some very creative traps and kills. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of, but also extremely entertaining and very well-made.

Watch Wake Up in US theaters!

Wake Up was directed by siblings Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell. They’re better known as the directing team RKSS. Previously, they’ve worked on We Are Zombies and Summer of 84. This movie is written by Alberto Marini (The Son) and is based on an original idea by Martin Soudan.

If you’ve read the Grady Hendrix book “Horrorstör“, this might seem strangely familiar. And if you haven’t read it, then I highly recommend it. It’s a supernatural horror story that plays out inside an IKEA wannabe. The book is even made like the iconic IKEA catalogue.

For the record, Wake Up is not supernatural, but the setting and violence are quite similar.

It’s no surprise that Wake Up has been a film festival hit. This must have been a real treat to watch with a horror-loving festival audience. After its world premiere at Austin’s Fantastic Fest, it was nominated for Best Motion Picture at the Sitges Film Festival.

While I feel it went too far with the young activists doing downright stupid things – and some parts of the plot were just factually wrong – I can’t take anything away from the entertainment value. Do not miss out on this extremely entertaining survival movie.

Wake Up is coming out in theaters nationwide on April 4, 2025.

Details

Directors: Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell
Writer: Alberto Marini
Cast: Turlough Convery, Benny O. Arthur, Alessia Yoko Fontana, Jacqueline Moré, Kyle Scudder, Thomas Gould, Charlotte Stoiber, Aidan O’Hare