Awake

Awake

What if sleep was no longer possible for all of humanity? Mark Raso’s ‘Awake’ opens up a possibility of chaos with that simple catastrophic premise in mind, where each moment of our waking sanity spirals into madness unless a miracle cure can be found within a few short days.

It seems that the remedy may reside in the form of a young girl named Matilda (Ariana Greenblatt), who remains one of the few people still able to sleep. She was involved in a car accident with her mother Jill (Gina Rodriguez) and brother Noah (Lucius Hoyos) at the very moment when most human technology went down after a solar flare hit Earth. For an instant it looked as though she might have drowned after their car careened into a lake, but she miraculously survived.

While the family is spared from tragedy on this first day following apocalypse, it marks only beginning of mankind’s fall into sleepless insanity. Jill finds out through work being wayward security guard herself, as well as having served time military service which left its mark on her psyche that psychologists and doctors are coming together somewhere far away trying to find cure. But having witnessed what Dr. Murphy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) did to prisoners during war years ago makes Jill question whether she can trust these scientists with saving herself and children or not.

In “Awake,” an apocalyptic thriller co-written by him along with his brother Joseph; director Raso does not allow us any moment relief from tension throughout this movie by heightening stakes for each character we follow closely here: besides fighting off hordes zombie-like sleep-deprived attackers who want see if her daughter might bring back their rest, main protagonist also deals with steadily declining mental faculties both own son’s decline as well whole masses people pleading desperately behind those dark eye sockets lining up outside rooms where girl sleeps hoping against all odds that some kind magic will happen.

There is a ‘Bird Box’ feel to it you know where mother has save kids unseeing horrors, but Raso does give ‘Awake’ more vibrant look, thanks cinematographer Alan Poon who bathes screen with brighter colors while keeping characters lit until very end when everything turns bleak finally showing that there still some hope left for us.

The Raso brothers touch on many themes throughout story like how war can leave scars deep within person’s soul such as what happened Jill during her time serving abroad followed by difficult transition back into civilian life; or mankind’s tendency towards violence during crisis situations; or even finding optimism within younger generations despite all odds being stacked against them. However at times these ideas seem too rushed over just so plot could move along faster towards its next set piece confrontation point.

During “Awake,” Rodriguez delivers performance with such intensity and forcefulness that once character starts descending into madness audience feels like watching different person altogether: from action hero physique language complete combat training background now almost resembling someone walking dead themselves i.e., unfocused gaze filled hazy eyes which can barely keep eyelids up let alone body upright anymore.

Relationship between Jill Noah starts off strained subtly grows stronger over course movie allowing Hoyos portray both moody teenager resentful absent mother figure one humbled tragedy eldest sibling stepping up taking care parent. As much heartfulness displayed through out this film however it’s Greenblatt ten-year old actress steals show through sheer energy levels alone propelling emotional scenes singlehandedly forward where necessary without missing beat once again proving why she is considered among Hollywood hottest prospects today having given tough performances which required every ounce talent possessed at any given time before releasing said performances onto silver screen for our viewing pleasure.

There are few occasions where things don’t quite click besides family drama aspect being main focus within “Awake.” Some special effects appear really fake looking especially those involving night skies full stars pushing itself away from emotional moment happening right before our very eyes.

Leigh’s small role as Dr. Murphy in “Awake” is a reunion with her “Annihilation” co-star Rodriguez, and this character seems to be almost like the other one they did together closed-mouthed and authoritative though Dr. Murphy is less central than that.

“Awake” only has enough fear and oddity, plus dread and mistrust, for its horror to be creepy fun. It’s not a perfect thriller but too many different things make sense including what Rodriguez and Greenblatt do here such as the Rasos’ use of weirdness from their research on sleep deprivation, about how fast those few days are when you lose your mind; One family staying close amid all this violence and chaos keeps them sane and grounded.

Watch Awake For Free On Gomovies.