The Awakening DVD
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton
Director: Nick Murphy
Rating: 3.5/5
It seems that no horror movie can resist throwing in some torture porn in a bid to gross audiences out rather than scare us - but I am happy to say that The Awakening doesn’t use such tactics.
Yes there is a real old fashioned horror movie feel to this film and it really is a very creepy watch from start to finish.
In post-World War I England in 1921, an author and paranormal sceptic (Hall) is invited to a countryside boarding school by the head master (West) to investigate rumours of an apparent haunting.
But just when she thinks she has debunked the ghost theory, she has a chilling encounter which makes her question all her rational beliefs.
This is a movie where the hairs on the back of your neck really do stand up as director Nick Murphy slowly racks up the tension frame by frame.
This is not a movie that relies on special effects and gore to get the scares instead the secluded surroundings and the old and creepy house does that all by itself.
There are also some great performances from a very talented cast, especially Rebecca Hall who emotionally puts herself on the line as everything she believes in is turned upside down.
There is great chemistry between Hall and Dominic West who both hide from the world and the truth to a certain extent, but they find comfort in each other.
It’s also a very restrained performance from Imelda Staunton that, at times, is as creepy as the house itself.
Some people may not be a fan of the ending and the big reveal but I thought that it worked quite well - it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting.
This is a super tense movie in a genre that is so difficult to get right; the solid story and the great performances really do help it along.
Forget the torture porn movies of late if you want a really creepy ride then The Awakening is a movie that you should check out.
The Awakening is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Rebecca Hall