In the shadowy landscape of contemporary horror cinema, Aislinn Clarke has emerged as a distinctive voice, crafting narratives that intertwine cultural heritage with psychological terror. Following her acclaimed 8mm found footage debut THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY, Clarke returns with FRÉWAKA, a groundbreaking Irish-language folk horror film that delves into generational trauma through the lens of ancient mythology.

Set in a remote Irish village, FRÉWAKA follows Shoo, a home care worker played by Clare Monnelly, who arrives to tend to an agoraphobic elderly woman portrayed by Bríd Ní Neachtain. Already haunted by personal tragedy, Shoo encounters a patient gripped by paranoia—not just of her neighbors, but of the Na Sídhe, sinister supernatural entities she believes abducted her decades earlier. As their relationship deepens, the boundaries between superstition and reality blur, forcing Shoo to confront both her patient’s haunting beliefs and the unresolved horrors of her own past.

What distinguishes FRÉWAKA in Clarke’s growing filmography is its cultural significance. As one of the first horror films ever made in the endangered Irish language, it represents Clarke’s commitment to weaving her heritage into the fabric of modern horror storytelling. This cultural authenticity caught the attention of horror streaming platform Shudder, which will debut the film exclusively on April 25, 2025, as a centerpiece of their “Halfway to Halloween” celebration.

“We’re honored to give FRÉWAKA, the first-ever Irish language horror film, an international platform on Shudder,” said Emily Gotto, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Production. “With this twist on a traditional haunted house, Aislinn skillfully delivers a bold, provocative, deeply emotional and menacing film that weaves folk horror within an impactful investigation of generational trauma.”

The film is produced by Diarmuid Lavery for DoubleBand Films and Patrick O’Neill for Wildcard, with executive producers including Máire Ní Chonláin, Deirbhile Ní Churraighín, Greg Martin, and Michael Hewitt. With FRÉWAKA, Clarke not only continues to establish herself as a compelling voice in horror cinema but also champions cultural preservation through her art, transforming endangered language into a vehicle for universal fear that transcends linguistic boundaries.