I can remember a time when movies really took the trouble to build a relationship between the characters and the audience. This movie certainly does that. It carefully allows us to know and care for the Pastor and his family. Then, when they are placed into great danger, we have an emotional investment that adds to the thrill factor. Every performance is right on. The family seems real and the cult members are cold and dangerous. It's like being drawn into a world filled with light and shadow, each element fighting to rule the screen. I love film noir, and this movie reminds me of why I do. The tone and structure of the film are carefully drawn, and the result is a movie to enjoy and remember long after it's over. Kudos to everyone in front of and behind the camera. A great time at the movies.

A fascinating expose of morés in a small town - where religious convictions and the congregation members are never what they seem. Superb acting by an Oregon based ensemble and quality production values by a local Portland crew give this production a veneer that the producers - and financiers - should be proud of. Congratulations for a thoroughly entertaining evening. Special regard should be made for the lead performance of the Pastor (Robert McKeehen) and his sympathetic, level headed wife (Audrey Walker) while Michael Prosser gives that delicious creepiness to Ethan Evans, initially thought to be the bad guy, yet really the fall guy. Robert Blanche provides that understated, demonic twist. Newcomer Nouel Riel (soon to be seen in a great little flick "Did You Kiss Anyone") is excellent as the confused teenager, and focus of the cult. While naming names, Writer/Director/Cinematographer Brother class-act Jason and Todd Freeman meld a terrific cast and fine performances.

When I saw this film at the premiere (Bagdad theater Portland OR) I didn't know much about what I was going to see however I must admit I had certain expectations. This is because "Wake Before I Die" was the fourth independent feature premiere I attended at the same theater within the last six months so naturally, being an enthusiast of local, low budget film I was comparing them. I do not know anyone affiliated with the production of the film however I was aware of the budget and that it was over twenty times that of the previous three films I had seen there. I can honestly say without exaggerating that it was one of the biggest let downs I have ever encountered in a movie theater. If they had charged me money, I would have asked for it back, it would have been the first time. The most positive thing I can truthfully say about the film is among the muck there were a few stand out performances by some of the leads especially the children. It's too bad that these performances do not even come close to out weighing the boredom, the incoherency, the lack of editing, the first semester film school lighting, the grating music, the uninspired photography.. to name just a few problems I had with the film. I've seen better films produced on a budget of unemployment and food stamps. Seriously. My girlfriend and I did our best to pay attention throughout the excruciating run time and discussed what we thought it was about and neither of us could articulate a plot line we agreed on. We decided that we both agreed that no matter what it was, we didn't care. Portland currently has a vibrant, close knit, budding film community that just needs a few good staples to really catch the eye of the rest of the world. This film is not one of them, and I think honesty in the reviews is very important so there can be an accurate spectrum to judge other creative works within the city's film scene. (note that the ten star review above this one was made months before it's release).

I just saw the premiere for this film on May 15, 2011. I heard rumor (and I pray it could have been just that) this actually soft premiered about 6 months earlier, so I was excited to be able to see something which had the opportunity to be approved upon from an earlier audience reaction. Obviously, there was excitement in the air as most of the cast and crew were present and anyone who actually completes an independent feature should be applauded for their work. Now, it is dangerous to think you'll get an honest reaction from these types of "premiere" showings as they are ultimately biased. However, when there is more shouts of joy and applause in seeing the opening credits than the markedly quiet response upon the film's completion, you know you have a stinker on your hands. But, first the positive: some of the performances were decent for what the actors' had to work with, which made be feel bad for them throughout the movie. When the acting was bad (and there are definitely plenty of those moments), it was mostly due to the storyline or motivations just not making any sense, which I fault mainly the director and/or screenwriter. This was apparently based on a novel that the Brothers Freeman's father wrote, but in this case, I certainly hope the book was better than the movie. As for the production, where does one begin to rip it apart? From the get-go, the musical score (as is the film) does not make any sense. It continually attempts to create tension where it doesn't exist on the screen. It is monotonous and cheesy. It almost lulled me asleep, and I wished it had. But I kept expecting the movie would get better, so I continued to force myself to watch. The lighting was horribly flat and boring for a thriller. Jib shots were great to have in there, but it was always the same type of up-down shot just about any monkey could pull off. The party scenes reminded me of amateur b-movies from the 80's - wow, they were bad. I liked the performance by Mike Prosser but it was almost laughable when he was killed in the middle of the film (I don't think that was the director's intention and I was a little sad in knowing that one of the few good performances got killed off - now what?). But, really it seemed like this was filmed without a script, because it was a mess. I could go on more about the production, but I've already wasted enough of my time watching it and writing this, so I think I'll just stop there. What I want to end with is this: I know this movie received matching funds from an Oregon grant (the first to do so) and it makes me sick to my stomach that this is what was churned from it. There is some great filmmaking done in Oregon and I pray that this does not tarnish a committee's or taxpayer's desire to help others out. On behalf of the fine Oregon filmmaking community, please offer them a second chance to do better next time. I can't imagine it will be difficult to do so.