Marking the writing and directorial debut of Henry LeRoy Finch, Wake revolves around four estranged brothers whose reunion, through no conscious effort of their own, takes place on the eve of their mother's death. Shot entirely on location in Bath, ME, Wake is told from the perspective of Sebastian (Martin Landau), a struggling writer who has been burdened with the care of his rapidly deteriorating mother. Through flashbacks, Sebastian recounts the odd night from beginning to end. There's also Raymond (Blake Gibbons), fresh out of prison and equipped with a mean streak from hell; Kyle (Gale Harold), whose alcoholism resurfaces within hours of being in contact with Raymond; and Jack (John Winthrop Philbrick), who, after being laid off from his job as a security guard is celebrating the best way he knows how: with lots of alcohol and sleazy women. While the party rages downstairs, Sebastian and Kyle sit upstairs fretting over the state of their mother. Ultimately, they reveal a series of secrets that perhaps oughtn't have been shared and the night ends with devastating results.
~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide