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Awake
MGM, The Weinstein Company


7.2

based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 67 votes
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MPAA RATING: R for language, an intense disturbing situation, and brief drug use

Starring Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Lena Olin, Terrence Howard, Steven Hinkle, Jennifer Pedersen, Sam Robards, and Poorna Jagannathan

Awake is a psychological thriller about a common occurrence called "anesthetic awareness," a horrifying phenomenon wherein a patient's failed anesthesia leaves him fully conscious but physically paralyzed during surgery. The patient's charming new wife is forced to struggle with her own demons as a terrifying drama unfolds around the couple. (The Weinstein Company)

GENRE(S):	Drama \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Joby Harold
DIRECTED BY:	Joby Harold
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 4, 2008 Theatrical: November 30, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	78 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A surprisingly effective thriller.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

Awake is a pleasing if negligible diversion.

Entertainment Weekly Gregory Kirschling

Too bad, because until it essentially turns into a medical-thriller version of "Look Who's Talking," the movie hums along comfortably enough as slick B fare.

Premiere Ryan Stewart

You won't see the twist coming, thanks to a clever and precise piece of casting, but that's the best compliment that can be paid to Awake, a plotty and unfocused medical thriller.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

With a couple of more drafts to mend the plot holes and restructure the middle act, Awake could have been saved.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Christensen delivers a low-key performance that is ultimately quite appealing, and he's well matched by the beautiful Alba. Olin brings unexpected depths to what could have been a stock role, and Terrence Howard uses his easy ability to project innate decency to excellent effect.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Awake is short enough (about 85 minutes) that it doesn't wear out its welcome. It's not a good movie but it's silly and lively enough to keep most viewers from dozing off, even if that might be a more profitable use of their time.

Variety Dennis Harvey

Harold's thriller does have an attention-getting plot hook, but piles on too many narrative gimmicks to maintain suspense or credibility.

Los Angeles Times Jan Stuart

Trashily in-your-face thriller, which leans heavily for its effects on intense sympathy pain, improbable reversals and the mystifying star appeal of Jessica Alba.

TV Guide Ken Fox

What a waste. Check out "Breakdown" or Aldo Lado's 1971 Italian giallo "Long Night Of The Short Dolls" for a far better treatments of the same subject.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

Only the so-bad-it's-good crowd need apply.

LA Weekly Jim Ridley

Harold’s glum overplotting squashes the sick humor and the innate fear of hospitals that gives the premise what kick it has; not even Craig McKay’s clever editing can defibrillate the preposterous ending.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

With a running time of 78 minutes, Awake is relatively painless, playing a little like a lesser story from one of EC Comics Shock SuspenStories – or a lot like Joseph Cotten's "Breakdown" episode of Alfred Hitchock Presents – updated for the Fangoria generation.

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

The writer and director, Joby Harold, claims to have been inspired to write the film while suffering from a particularly painful kidney stone. Watching it may be for some a comparable experience.

Boston Globe Wesley Morris

The movie tries going for a laugh or two. It even makes stabs at irony. But since none of the story is suspenseful, remotely believable, or, at the very least, cheaply entertaining, who cares?

Film Threat Rick Kisonak

This is a movie that should have a medical warning in its trailer. Caution: viewing may be hazardous to your filmgoing fun; side effects can include drowsiness, irritation and difficulty swallowing.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Possibly the worst movie of 2007.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.2 (out of 10) based on 67 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

John D gave it an8:
This movie is surprisingly good. one of the best plot twist i have ever seen. some part are touching. pretty face alba, what more do you want? i am afraid the critics got it all wrong. watch it!

Sean W. gave it a7:
I found this suprisingly enjoyable. Christensen and Alba gives better than average yet still mediocre performances. Story is generally gripping, except for a few spots. Overall a worthwhile film

Lev S. gave it a6:
Look, I enjoyed it until the final ridiculous plot turn where all was revealed and the whole thing was wrapped up. What could have been an engaging thriller was cut short with the VO telling us what we actually wanted to see.

Felix gave it a1:
Facts in the beginning are far from accurate. As others before me have said there are quite a few holes in this that make it fall short.

Dino P. gave it a10:
This movie is really great, this critics don't know shit!!

Brandon W. gave it a9:
Hilarious! Really clever writing, I'm very impressed.

Bit Burn gave it an8:
I rarely disagree with the critics; they are generally quite on par but this time some of them are waaaay off par. This movie was surprisingly very good, acting was decent but the storyline was amongst the best I have seen in a while.

Awake MGM, The Weinstein Company

Awake
MGM, The Weinstein Company