by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
What would make all our experiences during this pandemic better? How about continuing to make more films that focus on humanity affecting pandemic? That should be right at home at this point, right? When we are already sad and anxious about the craziness of the past 15 months or so, nothing will make us feel better than watching a fictionalized society deal with something similar. Some have dealt with COVID-19 headlong and really hit close to home. Others have taken the basic idea and run with it. But what type of pandemic would be the right one to unleash on a cinematic world? Could it be a virus like we are dealing with in real life? That one might really hit too close to home. Maybe some kind of humanity-affecting plague that leaves a specific effect on people? Sounds like we can take that Children of Men route then! But obviously, you would not want to just rip it off. Maybe go for a different effect on humanity. It could make everyone go blind. They could lose their sense of taste. Or maybe something more outside the box, like everyone losing their ability to sleep? That sounds like a strange one for sure. But that did not stop Netflix’s next original film from doing that very thing. Welcome to Awake.
This high concept idea for a post-apocalyptic tale is quite intriguing, is it not?
It certainly grabbed my attention. But does co-writer/director Mark Raso maximize this great concept for genre thrills? First off, this idea is genius. What would the effects of such a plague be? Well… what happens when you do not sleep? Do you get angry? Do you get depressed? Does the idea of running on low sleep scare you? This film might just show you what kind of effect that could really have. You will start to lose your mind and have your judgment clouded. You will become paranoid and question everything going on in your life. You may even question those closest to you. You can feel strange events and horror appearing inside your mind. But in the end, this sleep deprivation will lead to your death. What a horrifying concept! But that is the exact scenario that Netflix delivers in this new film. But the surprise is… a select few are still able to sleep!
With a great concept like this, Raso will deliver a special film… right?
Unfortunately, not quite. We have seen them before… films that have great concepts but what is told in them are uninspired. That can certainly be said about Awake. What the audiences are given is a series of vignettes, you might say. Basically, think of a group of people who might be scary to run into and you probably do in this movie. Religious fanatics. Check. Prisoners. Check. The military. Check. Scientists. Check, of course. On top of that, each of these encounters go how you might expect narratively. I will admit that there are a few moments of genuine surprise (one moment in a church takes the cake) but overall, this is a tropey ride that is not truly engaging. Raso’s direction is not filled with energy, and it lacks a quality pace about it. There are some fun scenes that show Raso’s dynamic ideas that focus on the camera work. I was pleasantly surprised by a few of the sequences and the crazy action that inhabited them. Specifically, the climatic set pieces of the film are insane with the amount going on during them. But overall, this film feels way too much like by-the-numbers sci-fi for a film with such a great premise.
But can the cast elevate these tropes and clichés along the way?
Not entirely nor consistently. Gina Rodriguez is strong in the film with a charismatic performance as a flawed mother trying to be there for her children unlike she has before. We can appreciate the struggle she has with her healthy and non-sleep deprived daughter, along with the question of, who will take care of her when this terrifying plague takes the lives of most including herself? Rodriguez is the standout, but Ariana Greenblatt who plays her daughter, gives a sympathetic performance as well. The actor who plays her son, though, just feels flat throughout the film. There are actors who unexpectedly appear in the film. Iron Fist himself, Finn Jones appears but he comes off flat and bland. Barry Peppers delivers an interesting performance as a priest in his one sequence in the film. Jennifer Jason Leigh is in the film too! Unfortunately, she does not have much to do at all. Most actors in this film do not appear long enough or are not given strong enough material to leave an impression.
Awake is right at your fingertips right now as it sits on Netflix… but is it worth your time?
Generally, the runtime is modest (sitting at just over 90 minutes) so that is a plus. Rodriguez gives a strong, committed performance right at the center. The concept for the film is quite compelling and lends itself to a lot of great ideas. Unfortunately, those ideas are not acted on and we are left with a pretty bland and disposable experience.
Grade: C-