Awake
Directed by Mark Raso
- drama
- science fiction
- thriller
The story
After a sudden global event wipes out all electronics and takes away humankind’s ability to sleep, chaos quickly begins to consume the world. Only Jill, an ex-soldier with a troubled past, may hold the key to a cure in the form of her own daughter. The question is, can Jill safely deliver her daughter and save the world before she herself loses her mind.
What it’s like
Cold, grey-blue light and handheld camera work that stays close to faces, with the frame often crowded by bodies and corridors, give this film a jittery, sleepless texture. Its palette leans on dusty urban greys, sickly fluorescent interiors, and the sudden emptiness of wide streets and abandoned highways, all underscored by a sparse, pulsing electronic score that drops into near silence at tense moments. The vibe is bleak and frayed, a late-night unease that tilts toward exhaustion and paranoia. It suits a dark, lonely evening or a long-haul flight when you want something taut rather than cozy. Pacing is brisk and escalating, with the emotional core built around a hardened mother and a child, and an arc that moves from guarded distrust toward fierce protectiveness. Violence is present and sometimes sharp, with brief scuffles and gunfire, and the mounting dread of mental deterioration carries more weight than gore. Not gentle. It's for viewers who want a grounded, sombre end-of-the-world story centred on family and endurance.
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