The supernatural horror film, Dead Awake, written by Final Destination scribe Jeffrey Reddick, wraps shooting this week in San Antonio Texas with director Phillip Guzman at the helm.
Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive first look at House of the Devil star Jocelin Donahue in Dead Awake, which also stars Jesse Bradford, with Lori Petty, Brea Grant, James Eckhouse and Billy Blair.
Donahue stars a young woman who, while investigating the death of someone close to her, jeopardizes the lives of her family and friends when she uncovers an ancient evil stalking its victims through the real-life phenomenon of sleep paralysis.
“It’s exciting to work with these passionate filmmakers and play the roles of Beth and Kate, twins who share a deep connection through a terrifying ordeal,” Donahue tells Bloody Disgusting. “This script is unpredictable and bone-chilling, and its real-world subject is perfect for a horror film.”
“As a former sufferer of sleep paralysis, this project struck a special chord with me,” Bradford stated. “I’ve experienced firsthand how frightening and how very real this phenomenon is.”
Sleep paralysis is a well-known affliction that has plagued people throughout history. It has been reported that at some point in their lives one in three people will experience sleep paralysis.
Jeffrey Reddick adds: “I got to be onset and filmed a small role. The footage looks amazing and the cast and crew are top notch. As a writer, it’s one of those great occasions where you see what you’ve put on page realized even better than you imagined.”
From Wikipedia:
“Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which people, either when falling asleep or wakening, temporarily experience an inability to move. It is a transition state between wakefulness and rest characterized by complete muscle atonia (muscle weakness). It can occur at sleep onset or upon awakening, and it is often associated with terrifying visions, such as an intruder in the room, to which one is unable to react due to paralysis.”
Derek Lee Nixon, James LaMarr and Galen Walker are producing the film along with Phillip Guzman, Kurt Wehner and Philip Marlatt. Executive Producers A.J. Gutierrez, LeeLee Wellberg and Jeffrey Reddick complete the producing team.
You can get updates on the film on Facebook, @AreYouDeadAwake, and share your sleep paralysis stories at www.areyoudeadawake.com.
