Awake (2007)
Drama | Thriller

Awake turns the disturbingly real phenomenon of anesthetic awareness - in which surgery patients, through completely paralyzed, are conscious of everything they are experiencing, including the pain - into a "completely absorbing" thriller (Roger Ebert). When failed anesthesia leaves a rich young tycoon (Hayden Christensen, Star Wars) alert but immobilized during open heart surgery, he overhears a devious plot to have him killed. Co-starring Jessica Alba (Sin City) and Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard (Crash), Awake does "for operations what Jaws did for the beach" -- (Frank Scheck,Hollywood Reporter).

"Awake" makes it crystal clear from the very beginning that 1 out of 300 people under anesthesia remains awake during surgery. Summary: Unexpected "Awake".

User Comment: Hugh Crain from United States, 27 September 2006 • I'm not going to put any spoilers in this review, but this is certainly a movie with some great twists and turns. I haven't been this excited about an upcoming release since The Sixth Sense or Memento. Hard to believe this is the director's first feature (although it's possible he cut his teeth in the commercial or music video world... I'm not sure) I mean, certainly the film has a few problems, some of the moments didn't ring exactly true to me and the music was a touch maudlin at times. But when this film gets it right, it gets it really right. I was on the edge of my seat from the second act on. It's the first film I've seen in awhile that manages to balance a genuine emotionality with a strong thriller aspect. Even Hayden Christensen, who I think we all had our doubts about after Episodes I-III, puts in a memorable and affecting performance. Definitely a film to see and a director I'll be keeping my eye on.

Summary: Caught a preview screening of this tonight and I'm awfully excited about it.

º º