FilmRise has acquired North American rights to Phillip Guzman’s Dead Awake, which was written by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Riddick.
Centring around the terrifying real-life phenomenon of sleep paralysis, the film stars The House of the Devil’s Jocelin Donahue as a straight-laced social worker who finds herself battling an ancient evil following an investigation into a string of mysterious deaths. Tank Girl herself, Lori Petty (who so impressed in the latest season of Orange is the New Black) also stars, along with rising star Brea Grant (Halloween II, Beyond The Gates), Jesse Bradford (Hackers, Cherry Falls), Jesse Borrego (Con Air, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series), and James Eckhouse (Avengers Assemble, Big).
“Phillip Guzman’s Dead Awake is a terrifying film that we are excited to be bringing to audiences in North America,” says FilmRise CEO Danny Fisher in the film’s press release. “I had the privilege of working previously with the highly talented Jeffrey Reddick, creator of Final Destination, on a film I executive produced that he wrote called Tamara.”
FilmRise picked up Dead Awake in a deal with Archstone Distribution during this month’s American Film Market.
“We are thrilled to be working with FilmRise,” adds President/CEO of Archstone Brady Bowen. “Dead Awake is in good hands, and we look forward to getting this out for the public to enjoy.”
FilmRise are planning a US theatrical release for early 2017.
Words: Kevan Farrow (@KevanX)
