Black Wake details the investigation of comely scientist Dr. Luiza Moreira (Nana Gouvea) who begins reviewing every scrap of video evidence concerning a rash of deaths occurring on various beaches near the Atlantic Ocean. As she presses on, Moreira finds shocking evidence that a monstrous prehistoric parasite may be responsible for the murderous mayhem. Complicating matters are a shadow organization that is following Moreira’s every move, a strange cult tied to the parasite (lead by a homeless man that may be Patient Zero of the outbreak), and the lil’ matter of the murder victims returning to life as violence crazed zombie-like beings! Can Dr. Moreira solve the case, survive the forces conspiring against her, maintain her sanity, and save the world?
The greatest (though by no means “only”) thing Black Wake has going for it is a truly excellent sense of mythology and world building courtesy of screen writers Jerry Janda, Carlos Keyes, and Jeremiah Kipp (who also directed). As the film details the explosive spread of the water borne parasite and the lunacy that results from it’s spread via security cam footage, cell phone videos, social media posts etc. (yup, this is a found footage flick, and one where the format is actually utilized to perfection) we are introduced to an almost Lovecraftian world where ancient alien beings live deep below the waves waiting to infect mankind and create their own dark religion (also, special mention needs be given to the evil, mind controlling tome detailing the parasites history…H.P. would be proud). Adding to the positives is a strong cast comprised of newer faces (Gouvea and Penny Dreadful‘s Jonny Beauchamp as the homeless man Tommy mentioned up yonder) and genre vets (Tom Sizemore, Eric Roberts, Chuck Zito, and Vincent Pastore…the later of which has the best “the shit just hit the fan’ reaction when faced with the truth of the murders made flesh before him) and an eerie, effective score that adds the right amount of arcane ambiance.
On the negative side…well, I don’t have much. I guess if you don’t like found footage flicks, you may not like this one, but honestly, Black Wake has such a cool narrative that to pass it up strictly based on film making style would be to deny yourself a fun experience in the ol’ horror biz…
In a nightmarish nutshell; if you love strong world building in your fright flicks, a fantastic sense of fabricated ‘reality’, and a heaping helpin’ of Lovecraftian overtones, Black Wake will truly make your tentacles twitch!
For more on Black Wake from Horror Fuel head here!
