Wake Up

Wake Up (2022) is an uncompromising dive into the grim realities of sex trafficking in the USA. Its interwoven storylines reveal a chilling mosaic of lives shattered by exploitation, offering an unrelenting look at a world where innocence is bartered and humanity feels like a luxury.

The performances are gut-wrenchingly raw, with each actor delivering stripped-down, intensely real portrayals. Director, Janet Craig, keeps a steady hand on the wheel, steering the film through harrowing territory without resorting to cheap sensationalism. The result is gripping, emotionally charged storytelling that keeps you riveted even as it pulls you deeper into its dark, unyielding world.

However, the film's relentless bleakness leaves little room for reprieve, a creative choice that may drain some viewers. While it doesn't always strike a perfect balance, its impact is undeniable. Wake Up is a harrowing, hard-hitting drama that shakes its audience to their core-and ensures they'll never forget its message.

Wake Up tells a critically important story about family, foster child support, and human trafficking. The subject matter is difficult, but this challenge outweighs the crucial necessity of educating viewers about the horrors of crimes committed against the most vulnerable. Director Janet Craig balances the weight of the subject matter with nuance and lighter moments. The production value is strong, as well as particularly powerful performances by the lead actors. A great idea is to host this movie in your home and local community to raise the importance of supporting foster children and protecting everyone from the scourge of human trafficking. This movie makes a great conversation starter about how to push back the darkness and bring about real change in every community.

From the dramatic opening chords, "Wake Up" plunges us into a world where four children are thrust into the foster care system, setting the stage for a story that leaps ten years forward into an environment rife with sexual oppression. This film doesn't pull any punches-it's tough, unflinching, and deeply unsettling. Themes of exploitation and slavery are at the forefront, painting a harrowing picture of a society grappling with its darkest elements.

At the heart of "Wake Up" is a detective who, along with the children's new parents, becomes ensnared in a dangerous game of criminality and moral ambiguity. The film masterfully explores the complexity of guilt and complicity, as institutions struggle to address these horrific wrongs.

"Wake Up" is a thought-provoking exploration into the grim realities of sexual exploitation. It's a challenging watch, but one that forces its audience to confront uncomfortable truths about a world many would prefer to ignore.

I have seen this movie twice now and the emotions you go through watching it and afterward thinking about how easily entangled the youth are in this type of setup are heart wrenching. This movie is gripping, thrilling and really makes you angry at the absolute depravity around our world and even right in our very own neighborhoods. The intersection of the porn industry and foster and vulnerable youth and the trafficking not to mention the buyers of sex is very eye opening. I love Janet Craig's heart to write, produce and act in this film and entreat others to get involved locally with organizations in the fight against trafficking. Don't miss this film!

There is no shortage of human trafficking movies out there. They all center around underaged girls being exploited and trafficked by a group of men referred to as "coyotes". This film, like the others, has plenty of that. What makes this film stand out is in its ability to justify the antagonists' motivations. No antagonist ever considers themselves a villain. But it's the villains-one in particular's motivations that are (no spoilers) revealed to be the most tragic and compelling. This is a human-trafficking frontrunner worthy of the likes of heavily-praised "Trafficked" and the decent (although corporately maligned) "The Sound of Freedom". David Gridley offers a standout performance. O'Shay Neal is terrifying. Janet Craig's psycho-sexual thriller pulls no punches in this unflinching expose on merciless sexual servitude. With twists galore, it's that final uppercut to the gut that stays with you long after the credits roil.