It’s been a long awaited film release, but Serena Waits was worth the wait! Another brilliant film from the uber-talented Hunter Johnson, Serena Waits explores the emotionally tumultuous act of vengeance provoked after a horrific drunken night of drinking, drugs and date rape. The horror of one night can linger forever.

Pretty young Serena (Massie) is indulging in the party atmosphere of college life by having typical booze-infused evening with friends at a frat house. Unfortunately, she takes a wrong turn on her walk home and ends up in the bedroom of the testosterone-fueled jock, Jack (Wheeler) who is eager to take full advantage of his intoxicated “finding”. Jack is one retaliatory asshole, unafraid to throw the first blow upon confrontation. Jack is a perfectly played asshole.

Things go bad…VERY bad…very fast, and while his “no-game having” friend Miles (Marlowe) staggers with his video phone, Jack violently violates Serena as she tries to fight him off. When the guys realize they took it too far, along comes the protagonist, Scott (Chudabala) whose clueless mentality adds some innocence to a sickening situation.

Over the next several weeks, the nightmare of what Scott and Miles did to Serena weighs heavily in their everyday lives, while Jack stands firmly to his “never talk about it again” mantra. But when the nightmares become actual supernatural events that invade their daily existence, the guys are forced to face their cruelty head on with what can only be perceived as the vengeful ghost of Serena.

With the support of Scott’s girlfriend, perky Trini (Sullivan), alongside Wendy and Sandy, the gang begins to sift through the invasiveness of Serena’s presence, and the truth begins to unfold. Even an accessory to a deadly incident will elicit payback for staying silent.

Hunter brought forth a tribute to rape survivors in this powerful film, focusing on the after effects of brutality against females.  He unleashes the vulnerability of remorse while still delving into the subsequent apathy that unfortunately can lay dormant in a shameless offender.

The thematics created around Serena’s persona are so effectively subtle, that you never lose sight of her presence throughout the entire film. Outstanding work in threaded little intricacies within every scene!

Incredible performances beginning with creepy dance instructor Elijah (Blair), heading to the overzealous and quirky Trini, just reinforce the dead on casting in Serena Waits. Spotlight on Charles Chudabala for inventing the susceptible Scott who regularly fears his own shadow from the moment that dreadful night concludes. Scott is both huggable and slappable – and if anything else, he is regretful.