Director Wayne Moreheart and screenwriter James Justin Howells’s horror film For God’s Sake Wake Her Up presents two haunted women as the protagonists. April (Mamie Kakimoto) is tormented by a demon that has cursed her family for generations. Rizz (Sarah Crawford) is haunted by guilt after fleeing her mother’s funeral. Their worlds collide when Rizz and her best friend Myles (Queen Legend) trespass into April’s home. Rizz, seeing a chance for redemption, decides to save the stranger by unraveling the mystery hidden in her frantic video diaries.
Moreheart’s debut is a film whose true intrigue is in allegory, not plot. On an atmospheric level, the film is a success. The soundscapes are eerie, and the editing is sharp, creating a palpable sense of dread. The cast is strong. Mamie Kakimoto leads the way with a powerful performance as April, infusing her terror with raw emotion. Her performance convinces the viewer that there is a big difference between a waking and a living nightmare. As the central friends Rizz and Myles, Crawford and Legend are just as convincing, selling their shared history with natural chemistry.
“April is tormented by a demon that has cursed her family for generations…”
That strong chemistry, however, also highlights the main weakness. While Crawford and Legend are believable as friends, the film itself is often difficult to follow. Myles stands out as the voice of reason, often voicing the audience’s confusion — most notably, why is Rizz suddenly willing to risk it all for April? This sudden, unexplained connection is a jarring narrative gap. And yet, the story remains compelling thanks to the mystery behind the demonic entity (Isabel Klapwyk). Even though Klapwyk’s portrayal leans on familiar tropes, the unanswered questions about the curse are strong enough to justify a sequel.
For God’s Sake Wake Her Up is a film at war with itself. Its strong production values and compelling themes of generational trauma are constantly undermined by an incoherent story that make it difficult to remain invested. Moreheart clearly has the beginnings of a potential franchise here, but the many unanswered questions feel less like intentional mysteries and more like simple flaws.
Learn more at the official For God’s Sake Wake Her Up website
"…strong production values and compelling themes of generational trauma..."
