Wake Up

Wake Up

Year: 2025

Runtime: 1 h 23 m

Language: english

Directors: Anouk Whissell, Yoann-Karl Whissell

Echo Score: 59

Budget: $40M

ActionHorror

A group of young activists plan to make an environmental statement by vandalizing a home superstore after closing time. Their intentions quickly turn disastrous when they become trapped inside, confronting a deranged security guard with a disturbing obsession for primitive hunting. As the night unfolds, the teenagers must fight desperately for their survival against escalating violence and terror.

Wake Up (2025) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Wake Up (2025) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the dim glow of a closed‑up retail complex, a tightly knit group of teenage activists sets out to make a bold statement about the planet they love. Their plan—sneaking into the sprawling home superstore after hours to leave a symbolic mark—feels both reckless and righteous, a mix of youthful idealism and the desperate urge to be heard. The empty aisles and fluorescent lights become a silent stage for their covert operation, hinting at a world where everyday places can turn into arenas of protest.

The teens move through the store with whispered instructions and nervous laughter, each driven by a personal connection to the earth that fuels their determination. Their leader, a fire‑born idealist, pushes the group forward, while quieter members cling to the hope that their act will spark conversation. The chemistry among them crackles with the energy of shared purpose, yet the very act of trespassing already sows the first seed of tension, making the ordinary surroundings feel increasingly precarious.

When the lights flicker and a set of heavy doors clank shut behind them, the atmosphere shifts from daring to claustrophobic. Trapped inside, the group encounters the store’s night watchman, whose unsettling fixation on primitive hunting methods turns him into a living embodiment of the very violence the activists hoped to condemn. His presence injects a primal, predatory edge into the night, turning the benign setting into a treacherous labyrinth of shadows and echoing footsteps.

The film balances an atmospheric thriller tone with sharp social commentary, immersing the viewer in a night where idealism collides with raw survival instinct. As tension mounts, the superstore becomes a crucible that tests the boundaries between conviction and fear, leaving the audience to wonder how far the young activists will go when the darkness outside the aisles mirrors the darkness they uncover within.

Last Updated: December 27, 2025 at 11:27

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Trapped and Hunted Horror Movies like Wake Up

Characters become prey inside a deadly, claustrophobic space.If you enjoyed the desperate fight for survival in Wake Up, you'll find similar tension in these movies. This list features intense horror films where characters are confined and methodically hunted, creating a claustrophobic and brutal experience focused on primal fear.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with characters entering a seemingly ordinary or abandoned space, only to discover they are not alone. A predator—human or otherwise—turns the location into a hunting ground, forcing the protagonists to use their wits and dwindling resources to survive a night of terror. The story unfolds as a tense cat-and-mouse game where the hunter has the home-field advantage.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their setting-as-prison and the core dynamic of hunter versus hunted. They share a high-intensity, dark tone, and a steady pacing that builds relentless dread. The emotional journey is one of primal fear and desperation, making the viewing experience consistently tense and brutal.

Movies About Shattered Idealism like Wake Up

Well-intentioned plans collapse into a desperate fight for survival.For viewers who appreciated the moral conflict in Wake Up, this list collects films where characters' good intentions lead them into horrifying situations. These stories explore the dark journey from idealism to survivalist desperation, often with a bitter or tragic outcome.

desperatebrutalmoral conflictpsychologicalfearfultenseparanoid

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern follows a group or individual motivated by a cause, who undertake a plan that they believe is righteous. This plan inadvertently places them in extreme danger, forcing them to confront a vicious antagonist or situation they are utterly unprepared for. The story arc is one of de-evolution, as characters shed their initial principles and are reduced to their most basic instinct: survive at any cost.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared thematic arc of failed idealism and moral compromise. They possess a dark tone and heavy emotional weight, focusing on the psychological impact of violence on naive or principled characters. The pacing is often steady, moving deliberately from a state of purpose to one of chaos and despair.

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Wake Up Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Wake Up, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Wake Up Summary

Wake Up Timeline

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Wake Up Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Wake Up

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Wake Up

More About Wake Up

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Discover movies like Wake Up that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.