A Wake (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A grieving family confronts secrecy, guilt, and the unresolved possibility of communicating with the dead.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Dreams Before the Wake

Mason is haunted by dreams involving Mitchel and number 22. Therapy exposes his resistance to grieving, as he places faith above counseling.

Key Events

• Recurring Dreams of Number 22 — Mason repeatedly dreams that Mitchel has left a message involving number 22. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Mason / Mitchel Location: Mason's dreams
• Therapy and Communication Claims — Mason tells his therapist that he can still communicate with Mitchel. Characters: Mason / Mitchel Location: Therapy room
• Counseling Meets Resistance — The therapist encourages Mason to grieve and accept help, but Mason remains resistant. Characters: Mason / Mitchel Location: Therapy room
• Faith Over Counseling — Mason says he has not cried and believes faith may lead him to Mitchel. Characters: Mason / Mitchel Location: Therapy room

The House Fills with Grief

Mason's family prepares the house for Mitchel's wake. Molly organizes the gathering and Richard receives guests, while Jameson's unexpected arrival creates immediate tension.

Key Events

• Wake Preparations Begin — Mason's family rushes to prepare the house for Mitchel's wake. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Richard Location: Family house
• Molly Organizes the Gathering — Molly takes charge while the household organizes food, candles, showers, and ceremony preparations. Characters: Molly, Mason / Mitchel, Richard Location: Family house
• Guests Are Expected — Richard helps receive guests while the family expects only a small gathering. Characters: Molly, Richard, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house
• Jameson Arrives Unexpectedly — Jameson unexpectedly arrives with cupcakes and an invitation to the gathering. Characters: Jameson, Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Richard Location: Family house
• Secret Relationship Surfaces — Jameson's presence unsettles Mason because Jameson was secretly involved with Mitchel. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house
• Mason Hides Jameson's Attendance — Mason has not told his family that Jameson would attend the wake. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson Location: Family house

Messages and Failed Contact

Mason and Jameson attempt to contact Mitchel before the ceremony. The attempt fails when Jameson's grief and guilt overwhelm him.

Key Events

• Attempt to Contact Mitchel — Mason and Jameson ask whether Mitchel is angry with anyone. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house
• Grief Collapses the Attempt — The contact attempt collapses when Jameson becomes overwhelmed by grief and guilt. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson Location: Family house

The Wake Breaks Open

The ceremony begins with remembrances and scripture, but discussion of a hidden message turns the gathering into an angry confrontation. Jameson then reveals the painful circumstances surrounding Mitchel's death.

Key Events

• Remembrances Begin — The ceremony begins, with Molly leading remembrances for Mitchel. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Jameson, Richard Location: Wake ceremony
• Mitchel's Compassion Remembered — A grandmother praises Mitchel's compassion during the remembrance. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Jameson, Richard Location: Wake ceremony
• Pastor Reads Matthew — A pastor reads from Matthew about finding rest for troubled souls. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Jameson, Richard Location: Wake ceremony
• Hidden Message Mentioned — A hidden message connected to Mitchel is brought up during the ceremony. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly, Jameson, Richard Location: Wake ceremony
• Mason Confronts Molly — Mason angrily confronts his sister for keeping the messages from the family. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly Location: Wake ceremony
• Mason Blames Others — Mason blames Molly and another person for ruining everything. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Molly Location: Wake ceremony
• Jameson Leaves the Wake — Jameson leaves after explaining the painful history of his relationship with Mitchel. Characters: Jameson, Mason / Mitchel, Molly Location: Family house
• Mitchel Ended the Relationship — Jameson reveals that Mitchel broke up with him shortly before his death. Characters: Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house
• Overdose Learned Online — Jameson says he learned about Mitchel's overdose through a social-media post. Characters: Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house
• Jameson's Numbness and Guilt — Jameson describes feeling numb and wonders whether he could have helped Mitchel. Characters: Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house

An Unanswered Doorway

Mason apologizes to Jameson and says he needs to show him something. Molly proposes trying to communicate with Mitchel again, leaving the central mystery unresolved.

Key Events

• Mason Apologizes — Mason apologizes and admits that he is struggling to understand what happened. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson Location: Family house
• Mason Offers to Show Something — Mason tells Jameson that he needs to show him something. Characters: Mason / Mitchel, Jameson Location: Family house
• Another Contact Attempt Proposed — Molly suggests another attempt to communicate with Mitchel, leaving contact unresolved. Characters: Molly, Mason / Mitchel, Jameson, Mason / Mitchel Location: Family house

Story Breakdown

• Mason's Unresolved Grief — Mason struggles to accept Mitchel's death and searches for meaning through dreams, faith, and possible communication.
  • Dreams of Number 22 — Recurring dreams suggest that Mitchel has left Mason a message involving number 22.
  • Faith Against Counseling — Mason rejects emotional release and believes faith may help him reach Mitchel.
• The Family Prepares — The household organizes the wake while different family members take practical responsibility for the gathering.
  • Molly Takes Charge — Molly coordinates food, candles, showers, and the ceremony.
  • Richard Receives Guests — Richard helps welcome people as the family prepares for a small gathering.
• Jameson Enters — Jameson's unexpected arrival exposes a hidden connection to Mitchel and unsettles Mason.
  • Cupcakes and Invitation — Jameson arrives with cupcakes and an invitation despite the family's expectation of a small group.
  • Secret Relationship — Mason is disturbed because Jameson was secretly involved with Mitchel.
• Failed Contact Attempt — Mason and Jameson try to reach Mitchel, but grief and guilt prevent the attempt from succeeding.
  • Questions for Mitchel — They ask whether Mitchel is angry with anyone.
  • Grief Takes Over — Jameson becomes overwhelmed, causing the attempted contact to collapse.
• The Wake Ceremony — Remembrance and scripture briefly create a peaceful ritual before hidden information disrupts the gathering.
  • Compassion Remembered — A grandmother praises Mitchel's compassion during the remembrances.
  • Matthew's Promise — A pastor reads from Matthew about rest for troubled souls.
• Hidden Messages Surface — The mention of messages transforms mourning into anger and exposes the family's unresolved conflict.
  • Mason Confronts Molly — Mason accuses his sister of keeping the messages from the family.
  • Blame and Ruin — Mason blames Molly and another person for ruining everything.
• Jameson's Painful Revelation — Jameson explains his breakup with Mitchel, his delayed discovery of the overdose, and his resulting guilt.
  • The Breakup — Jameson says Mitchel ended their relationship shortly before his death.
  • Online Death Notice — Jameson learned about the overdose through a social-media post and wondered whether he could have helped.
• Unanswered Final Attempt — Mason apologizes and offers to show Jameson something, while Molly proposes trying to contact Mitchel again.
  • Mason's Apology — Mason admits that he is struggling to understand what happened.
  • Contact Remains Possible — Molly's proposal leaves the possibility of communication with Mitchel unresolved.

Directed by

Scott Boswell

Key Cast

• Noah Urrea — Mason / Mitchel
• Kolton Stewart — Jameson
• Sofia Rosinsky — Molly
• Megan Trout — Megan
• Bettina Devin — Loretta