WHEN SHE WAKES

Cinemavixion Review

David Arthur Clark's 'When She Wakes' plunges into the harrowing depths of maternal grief and the psychological terrors that can follow profound loss. The film centers on a narcoleptic mother grappling with the tragic death of her infant son, a trauma that triggers increasingly disturbing episodes of parasomnia. As she and her young daughter navigate their pain, they are plagued by night terrors and sleep paralysis, leaving them paralyzed witnesses to horrific visions. The narrative masterfully blurs the lines between dream and reality, as the mother becomes convinced she is being watched each night. These disturbing nightmares soon begin to bleed into their waking lives, manifesting as a sinister presence. The film excels in its portrayal of the mother's desperate struggle to protect her family from this encroaching, otherworldly threat, exploring the fragility of the human psyche under extreme duress. 'When She Wakes' is a chilling exploration of how grief can warp perception and unleash unimaginable fears.