Dead Awake

Beth Bowman experiences regular bouts of sleep paralysis, during which a demonic hag torments her. These terrifying episodes leave her feeling helpless and terrified, marking the beginning of her struggles.

Initially upset by her boyfriend Evan's surprise birthday party for her, Beth is further unsettled when he invites her estranged twin sister, Kate. Despite the awkwardness, the sisters share a brief moment of reconnection through dancing at the party.

After chilling the party's mood with her sleep paralysis story, Beth leaves to visit Kate. There, she opens up about the suffocating feeling she experiences during her episodes, leading to a further understanding between the sisters.

The following day, Beth and Kate consult sleep disorder expert Dr. Sykes, who calms their fears by explaining that sleep paralysis is not physically harmful. However, their worries are just beginning as they seek answers.

That night, Kate experiences a nightmare from Beth's perspective, witnessing her sister being terrorized during a sleep paralysis episode. Alarmed, she informs their parents, but by the time they reach her, it is too late; Beth is found dead in her bed.

During Beth's funeral, Hassan Davies, another sleep disorder specialist, reaches out to Kate to express his condolences. He begins to share insights about Beth's condition with her, laying the groundwork for further investigation.

Kate seeks more information about Beth's sleep disorder from Evan, leading them back to Dr. Sykes. However, Sykes dismisses Hassan's radical ideas about demonic sleep paralysis, leaving Kate feeling unsettled about the validity of their experiences.

While taking a bath, Kate has a terrifying encounter with sleep paralysis herself, nearly drowning in the process. This shocking experience further deepens her understanding of the danger associated with the demonic hag.

Kate and Evan delve into online research about sleep paralysis, discovering disturbing video diaries from John Pang. However, their attempts to reach him yield no response, prompting them to consider visiting him in person.

Meanwhile, Linda suffers from another terrifying sleep paralysis episode fueled by her fears of her husband Daryl's infidelity. Tragically, Linda is later found dead, and suspicion falls on Kate for introducing unsettling concepts about the experiences.

Kate and Evan travel to Austin to meet with John Pang, only to find he has become unhinged from his relentless sleep deprivation in his efforts to combat the sleep demon. His fragility raises more questions than answers for the couple.

Back with Hassan, he reveals his own sleepless nights due to encounters with the hag. Hassan concocts a risky plan to administer adrenaline to Kate during her episodes to weaken the demon's grip, illustrating the dangers they face.

Fearing for her parents' safety, Kate and Evan race to ensure Dave and Claire are safe after learning about Hassan's findings. Their urgency reflects the looming threat of the demon now haunting their family.

During a crucial monitoring session, Hassan makes the ultimate sacrifice by entering a dream state to rescue Kate. His death underscores the high stakes involved in confronting the demon and the tragic toll it takes on those fighting against it.

In a climactic confrontation within her nightmare, Kate battles a demonic vision of her sister Beth, who transforms into the hag. After a fierce struggle, Kate manages to defeat the demon, but the war against sleep paralysis along with its implications remains unresolved.