THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to Bluray and Digital from director Michael Mailer and Lionsgate is the suspense thriller THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD.

Russ Potter (Cole Hauser) is not very popular with the town’s folk at present. After talking them into investing in the market, it all goes belly up and people are furious. Russ tries to explain that he lost money as well but that does not resonate with the towns people at all so he is keeping his head down and staying out of the way.

Stopping at the local café for a cup of coffee, waitress Delaine Moore (Jaimie Alexander) tries to cheer him up. Being friends since they were in high school, she manages a smile out of him before she has to return home to take care of an ill father. That’s when something odd begins to happen. Russ starts receiving soft spoken but ominous calls.

Taking his concerns to Sheriff Thurmond Fowler (Morgan Freeman), he does not get much sympathy. The word is out and the Sheriff believes that whoever is doing it has a legitimate grudge against Russ. Days pass and the phone calls continue. Trying to help, Delaine invites Russ to her house to have dinner and since he only lives next door he is delighted.

The two get, well, close and that only makes things more difficult when Delaine’s father is murdered! Now things are about to get heated, confusing and complicated in the most shocking ways.

Freeman as Sheriff Fowler has such a laid-back attitude and knows his town very well. It is a bit of fun to my way of thinking that he took this role. By that I mean there is not a lot to it but Freeman makes sure you pay attention every time he is on screen and I loved it.

Hauser as Russ is a man who has made a huge mistake in a small town. Now if it had been a big city, then maybe it would have been easier to smooth things over. Nope, and now he is paying for it with angry townspeople and nasty looks – except from Delanie. Don’t let that handsome face fool you, Hauser as Russ has a few tricks up his sleeve as well.

Alexander as Delaine is a waitress trying to make ends meet and keep up with debts. Adding a bit of fun with Russ is just a big tip so to speak. Taking care of her father, the truth starts percolating to the surface and Delaine has no choice but to face it and Alexander is one cool plate of lettuce!

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP is a thriller to be sure and the twists and turns will have you yelling ‘no way!’. It is a slow-moving piece but it is a sleepy town with lots of secrets and to move any faster would be a crime. Friendships are empty, relationships have a purpose and what it all boils down to is murder.

Keeping is within these three characters is what makes the story. I actually like a story that doesn’t go off into fifteen-million characters and doesn’t finish with a yell from me. Keep it short, keep is within a who-dun-it realm and I’m all in.

THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD is not a fast paced, action type thriller, it is wrapped in a small town where everybody knows everyone else’s business and that can get you killed.

In the end – don’t trust a soul!