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Action horror film

Wake Up (2025): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Wake Up (2025) movie poster

Wake Up is a 2025 action horror film directed by Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, starring Alessia Yoko Fontana as Grace, Daniel Lundh and Turlough Convery. It runs 1 hour 23 minutes and was made on a reported $40 million budget. Critics gave it 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.

IMDb rating
7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes
69%
Echo Score
59
budget
$40M
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Wake Up (2025) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 23m (83 min)
Genres
Action , Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$40M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Wake Up About?

The premise of Wake Up without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A group of young activists plan to make an environmental statement by vandalizing a home superstore after closing time. Their intentions quickly turn disastrous when they become trapped inside, confronting a deranged security guard with a disturbing obsession for primitive hunting. As the night unfolds, the teenagers must fight desperately for their survival against escalating violence and terror.

Wake Up Themes & Keywords

· 30 tags
  • benoit blanc character
  • whodunit
  • murder mystery
  • detective
  • mystery killer
  • sequel
  • third part
  • private detective
  • investigation
  • murder
  • killer
  • murderer
+18 more
  • british actor playing american character
  • house
  • racism
  • knife
  • killing
  • criminal
  • blood
  • violence
  • murder play
  • stage thriller
  • black comedy
  • investigate
  • victim
  • dark comedy
  • case
  • secret
  • whodunnit
  • whodunnit mystery
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Cast & crew

Wake Up Cast & Characters

Alessia Yoko Fontana leads the cast as Grace, with Daniel Lundh as Chief of Police and Turlough Convery as Kevin. Directed by Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell; 9 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Wake Up

· 5 more
From the directors

More from Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell

More films directed by Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell, best-rated first: Turbo Kid, Summer of 84, We Are Zombies and No Tomorrow: A Turbo Kid Tale.

Ratings

Wake Up Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Wake Up 69% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 59/100, strongest in art & craft (80) and weakest in character & emotion (30).

59 /100

Wake Up Echo Score Breakdown

In Wake Up, the film’s visual design and deliberate directorial choices provide its most consistent appeal. Critics and viewers alike note the polished production design, measured editing, and bold composition of its action sequences. However, uneven narrative execution and shallow emotional undercurrents temper the impact of its stylistic strengths. While the pacing injects bursts of tension, a lack of deeper suspense prevents full immersion. On balance, Wake Up offers a visually arresting experience that feels only moderately satisfying.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 80

    In terms of art and craft, Wake Up exhibits striking visual cohesion and precise technical execution. Observers praise the slick cinematography, dynamic framing, and concise editing that heighten its visceral tone. The production design reinforces a bleak, action-horror atmosphere with stark contrasts and stylized gore. Overall, the film’s art direction stands out as its primary asset.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to character and emotion, Wake Up suffers from limited development and consistently thin portrayals. Critics note that protagonists lack depth, and supporting figures register as one-dimensional or abrasive. The emotional stakes remain underexplored, leaving little opportunity for genuine empathy or resonance. In sum, character work feels superficial and unengaging.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, Wake Up delivers intermittent momentum but struggles with narrative coherence. The film’s rapid escalation and final twist generate bursts of intrigue, yet uneven writing and contrived plot developments create confusion. Several critics found the pacing erratic, with underdeveloped suspense undermining engagement. Consequently, the storyline feels only partially compelling.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, Wake Up delivers immersive audio-visual impact through its forceful soundtrack and intense sound design. Viewers commend the pounding score and crisp effects that amplify its gruesome set pieces. Visually, the film maintains a cohesive style with saturated gore and high-contrast framing. Overall, sensory elements significantly reinforce its brutal tone.

  • Rewatch Factor 55

    In terms of rewatch value, Wake Up offers limited incentive for repeated viewings. The streamlined slasher format and effective shock ending provide initial excitement, but shallow character dynamics and predictable genre beats diminish lasting appeal. While the visceral moments retain momentary interest, the lack of deeper thematic substance constrains enthusiasm for revisiting the film.

Plot

Wake Up Plot Summary

What happens in Wake Up from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Father Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer who became a priest, moves from the heat of the ring to the quiet fields of upstate New York. He’s reassigned as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a rural parish presided over by the stern Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. The town’s spiritual heart is shaped by Langstrom, the bishop who sends Jud to Chimney Rock, and by the devoted Martha Delacroix, Wicks’s right-hand woman. The church’s day-to-day life centers on the groundskeeper Samson and the devoted, sometimes weary, parishioners who cling to a fragile faith.

Full summary

The whole story of Wake Up, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Wake Up Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

Official Trailer
  • Clip First Look Clip
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Wake Up?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What profession did Father Jud Duplenticy have before becoming a priest?

Seen Wake Up?

FAQ

Wake Up FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Wake Up, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Wake Up?

Wake Up runs 1 hour 23 minutes (83 minutes).

When was Wake Up released?

Wake Up was released on April 4, 2025.

Who directed Wake Up?

Wake Up was directed by Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell.

More films by Anouk Whissell

Who is in the cast of Wake Up?

Wake Up stars Alessia Yoko Fontana as Grace, Daniel Lundh as Chief of Police and Turlough Convery as Kevin, among 9 credited actors.

What was the budget of Wake Up?

Wake Up had a reported budget of $40 million.

How is Wake Up rated?

Wake Up has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 69% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67% on TMDB.

Does Wake Up have a post-credit scene?

No. Wake Up has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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