Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, has acquired the U.S. rights to the feature horror After She Wakes (formerly titled When She Wakes), Crypt Teaze learned today.
Starring Hannah Ward, best known for her role in the viral sci-fi short film Ballistic and the upcoming film The Assent starring Robert Kazinsky, the film will be available on VOD platforms this coming December.
Written and directed by newcomer David A. Clark, After She Wakes stars Ward as a narcoleptic mother who suffers from terrifying sleep disruptions as she tries to deal with ongoing grief following the tragic death of her infant son.
"Her family begins experiencing different episodes of parasomnia including night terrors and sleep paralysis, leaving them unable to move and only able to witness horrific visions. These nightmares become too disturbing as they create a rift in their own realities causing the mother to believe someone or something is watching her sleep every night."
Conrad Goode (Con-Air, The Longest Yard), Nicola Lambo ("American Crime Story", "Will & Grace") and Micah Parker ("Mob City", "Vampire Diaries") also star. The film is executive produced by Jason Zada, director of Focus Feature’s The Forest, starring Natalie Dormer. Princ Films is handling international sales.
"This film explores the grief and dread that stems from the tragic loss of loved ones, and how it can turn your world upside down, like a living nightmare," says Clark, who wrote the film after suffering a bout of Sleep Paralysis and feared the idea of being helpless, unable to protect his own children.
"Dave is one of the most talented up-and-coming filmmakers working in the genre and his vision for this project was emotional and scary," adds Zada, who is executive producer and frequent collaborator with Clark. "I’m always excited to work with extraordinary writer/directors who have unique voices and I can’t wait for the horror world to see what else Dave has up his sleeve."
