Things that make this not work for me
Hole 1) Detective would be easily identified by his finger prints alone. Of course they would be on file he is a detective. So they would know who he was day one.
Hole 2) This is never explained but, no police/detective/ even rookie on their first day would decide to drive the car that hello is the crime scene. Just no.
Hole 3) Dead body can just disappear from the morgue and it's never noticed.
Hole 4) Hired hitman can remove a gun and badge off his target and can't tell that they are still alive.
Too many holes to go on
What made this movie watchable at all to me was the acting. JRM has always been great. Loved him since I saw Match Point. Anyway, the four stars are for the acting and the six missing is due to absolute bad story.
116 Reviews
Made it half way through
antique-modern30 September 2019
For too predictable
valleyjohn21 May 2020
Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a really good actor but he has never fulfilled his potential. He was fantastic in the The Tudors and really good in films like Elvis and Bend it Like Beckham but for one reason or another , he has had some serious personal problems and has resorted to making B movies like Awake and I think it's a crying shame .
Rhys Meyers plays a man who wakes up in a hospital bed with no recollection of who he is, and learns that he's wanted by the police for committing a series of murders.
About an hour into this film there is a scene where two cops are talking to each other and one says - "This whole damn thing is starting to spiral out of control . It's a mess." Well I couldn't put it better myself !
The plot to this film is ridiculous. Without giving anything away , it doesn't take a genius to work out who the bad guy is because , as always , it's the one character that gets introduced to the film in the first quarter , for no reason whatsoever other than to give you the heads up and it's so annoying.
This tries to be far too clever for its own good and just ends up being a tangled mess .
It's not terrible. If you are a fan of Rhys Meyer then it's worth watching because he's definitely the best thing about the film and mercifully it's nice and short so the plot won't wind you up for too long and I'm sure within 24 hours I will have completely forgotten about the film , just like the main character.
Rhys Meyers plays a man who wakes up in a hospital bed with no recollection of who he is, and learns that he's wanted by the police for committing a series of murders.
About an hour into this film there is a scene where two cops are talking to each other and one says - "This whole damn thing is starting to spiral out of control . It's a mess." Well I couldn't put it better myself !
The plot to this film is ridiculous. Without giving anything away , it doesn't take a genius to work out who the bad guy is because , as always , it's the one character that gets introduced to the film in the first quarter , for no reason whatsoever other than to give you the heads up and it's so annoying.
This tries to be far too clever for its own good and just ends up being a tangled mess .
It's not terrible. If you are a fan of Rhys Meyer then it's worth watching because he's definitely the best thing about the film and mercifully it's nice and short so the plot won't wind you up for too long and I'm sure within 24 hours I will have completely forgotten about the film , just like the main character.
Simply awful
xdavid26 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I read all the reviews, both good and bad, so I decided to see for myself. Seriously, this is a really bad movie. The dialog is juvenile, the acting is poor all the way around, and I've seen college movie projects that were better directed. Parts of it almost seem like a spoof and you can tell in the first few minutes who the culprit is simply from the screen time spent on a seemingly minor character.
There is nothing here to justify the time spent watching it, and honestly ... my standards aren't very high.
There is nothing here to justify the time spent watching it, and honestly ... my standards aren't very high.
So many mistakes
bombres2 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, how does a nurse who is on duty happen to have her car keys on her when they go out to her car? No purse, no jacket, but car keys she carries with her.
How does she have a change of clothes and money for a hotel room if she left with nothing (except those mysterious car keys).
When he was doing research at the library, the date said body found on
"June 31th". No one caught that???
It was just not a good movie
What were they thinking?
connielynnhudgins25 November 2019
Why would such an amazing actor do this film? The directing was awful, his fellow actors were terrible. It was like a 12 year old directed the film. If I knew I was going to be watching a B film, I wouldn't have wasted my time. You could tell who was the killer was early on in the film.
I was expecting Henry the 8th good and this was just awful. I don't know if Jonathan Rhys Meyer was rusty or if it was the directing, but how do you go from outstanding to absolutely terrible?
I was expecting Henry the 8th good and this was just awful. I don't know if Jonathan Rhys Meyer was rusty or if it was the directing, but how do you go from outstanding to absolutely terrible?
Some unanswered questions
pocahauntis12322 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I have to say that this movie is mildly entertaining--much better than yet another episode of The Bachelor or Dancing with the Stars.The basic story was in theory a good idea (albeit not unique), but there were so many gaps in the continuity that it was a good thing the storyline wasn't real complicated. The movie left more questions than answers and so we were left kind of feeling anticlimactic. How did Michael end up driving the car with the body in it? Why did they kill Tom? How can you drive right through a roadblock without even stopping? Why did Diana go to the victim's house twice? How can someone just be absent from work with no ramifications? Other questions too but suffice to say that this is good, mindless entertainment. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is an Eastwood clone; Francesca Eastwood is not and holds no resemblance to Clint whatsoever.
It'll make you snooze quickly
Wizard-81 December 2019
The whole "amnesiac finding himself accused of murder and setting off his own personal investigation to prove his innocence" has been done before, but I was willing to sit through it again. However, these filmmakers weren't able to put enough freshness or common sense into this retelling. As other IMDb commenters have stated here, the plot in this retelling has a number of holes. Some things are not properly explained, and other things simply don't make sense if you know how professional police investigators (or even ordinary people) act. But there is a bigger problem with the movie, and that is how slow and dull its story unfolds. There is almost no feeling of struggle or tension in the entire 92 minutes, and as a result the story is so low key that it's hard to give a hoot about the mystery or any of the characters. The problems with the movie may have in part come from the fact that the credits state that two people directed the movie; conflicts in the director's chair may have taken attention away from the fact that the screenplay and its atmosphere needed a lot more care.
John Doe Meets his Guardian Angel
lavatch19 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The most interesting character of "Awake" is the nurse named Diana, who believes in the innocence of a man brought into the hospital after a serious car crash. The man is identified as "John Doe" because he has suffered from memory loss after the crash. Also, we know that the auto wreck was not an accident, as he was intentional pushed off the road by another driver intent on killing him.
While Diana does not have the background on the car wreck, she does sense the decency in John Doe, after he was accused of being a serial killer. When he tells her that "I didn't do it because I couldn't," she recognizes that those were the exact words of her father, who was falsely accused of murder. Now, she seeks redemption in helping John Doe to recover his memory and prove his innocence.
"El Dia de los Muertos" (The Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and is associated with the marigold as its ceremonial flower. The marigold is the calling card of the serial killer in his dance of death. If the flower can be traced to someone other than John Doe, the perpetrator who has murdered five women in Texas may be brought to justice.
There is only one moment in the film that did not ring true. This was the scene where Diana's best friend Tom is killed. She arrives to find John Doe in the garage with her deceased friend Tom and immediately concludes that he is the killer. After her unfailing support of him, she is at this moment uncharacteristically unfaithful and races out of the garage just before the real killer tries to garrote John Doe.
Apart from this major lapse, the film was well-scripted with good suspense and solid character developments, including the hardboiled detective, the local police officer, and the cop's son Oliver, a loner and baseball player. But the most memorable character was Diana, who was well played by Clint Eastwood's daughter Francesca. Diana was playing the guardian angel to John Doe, but she was also seeking absolution herself. The arrival of John Doe in her hospital was destiny foreseen, and she faithfully answered her calling.
While Diana does not have the background on the car wreck, she does sense the decency in John Doe, after he was accused of being a serial killer. When he tells her that "I didn't do it because I couldn't," she recognizes that those were the exact words of her father, who was falsely accused of murder. Now, she seeks redemption in helping John Doe to recover his memory and prove his innocence.
"El Dia de los Muertos" (The Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and is associated with the marigold as its ceremonial flower. The marigold is the calling card of the serial killer in his dance of death. If the flower can be traced to someone other than John Doe, the perpetrator who has murdered five women in Texas may be brought to justice.
There is only one moment in the film that did not ring true. This was the scene where Diana's best friend Tom is killed. She arrives to find John Doe in the garage with her deceased friend Tom and immediately concludes that he is the killer. After her unfailing support of him, she is at this moment uncharacteristically unfaithful and races out of the garage just before the real killer tries to garrote John Doe.
Apart from this major lapse, the film was well-scripted with good suspense and solid character developments, including the hardboiled detective, the local police officer, and the cop's son Oliver, a loner and baseball player. But the most memorable character was Diana, who was well played by Clint Eastwood's daughter Francesca. Diana was playing the guardian angel to John Doe, but she was also seeking absolution herself. The arrival of John Doe in her hospital was destiny foreseen, and she faithfully answered her calling.
Poor directing and writing but still love Jonathan
phoneladee25 January 2020
I loved Jonathan Meyers in Dracula. Dont know what happened since. Maybe taking on bad roles since, but know he can do way better than in this movie. The acting in this movie is poor. Really wanted to like it but it just dragged on. Fell asleep before it was over. But still love you Jonathan. I hope someone writes something better for you!
What is wrong with you people?
tlawrenceintel16 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I think one should no be allowed to completely trash a movie without having a measure of intellect. Which means that a smart person can find enough good in most movies to say something good if being realistic.
So I admit this movie has a lot of problems that plague lower budget movies. The cast has two leads with names that you would recognize, or should. Rys-Myers isn't the greatest actor but he's not the worst. He is miscast in this role. I would have loved to see someone like Ethan Hawke in his role. Francesca Eastwood, although not great was the best part of this movie. Amy Adams would have been better in this role. Reference-Sharp Objects. The role of the psychopath would have been played much better by Edward Norton. Alas, they didn't have that budget. The worst part of this movie is the Sheriff who is the psychopath's father. Horrible acting. No emotion reflected in what should have been a very emotional twist at the end of the movie. He alone could have elevated the movie exponentially. That should have been someone like Russell Crowe which has the chops to bite down on a perfect moment like that and take your breath away.
When it is all said and done it's an excellent, almost predictable story that could have been done much better with a better cast and better budget. The twist at the end alone, if done better by one actor, could have changed the playing field for this movie.
Was it worth watching? Yes. Was it worth paying to watch? Maybe, maybe not. Does it deserve all of the horrible reviews? Absolutely not.
So I admit this movie has a lot of problems that plague lower budget movies. The cast has two leads with names that you would recognize, or should. Rys-Myers isn't the greatest actor but he's not the worst. He is miscast in this role. I would have loved to see someone like Ethan Hawke in his role. Francesca Eastwood, although not great was the best part of this movie. Amy Adams would have been better in this role. Reference-Sharp Objects. The role of the psychopath would have been played much better by Edward Norton. Alas, they didn't have that budget. The worst part of this movie is the Sheriff who is the psychopath's father. Horrible acting. No emotion reflected in what should have been a very emotional twist at the end of the movie. He alone could have elevated the movie exponentially. That should have been someone like Russell Crowe which has the chops to bite down on a perfect moment like that and take your breath away.
When it is all said and done it's an excellent, almost predictable story that could have been done much better with a better cast and better budget. The twist at the end alone, if done better by one actor, could have changed the playing field for this movie.
Was it worth watching? Yes. Was it worth paying to watch? Maybe, maybe not. Does it deserve all of the horrible reviews? Absolutely not.
Entertaining Serial Killer Thriller
Pairic24 November 2019
Awake: A serial killer leaves his victims with marigold chains on their heads. An FBI Agent and the local Sheriff think the have the killer when a man (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) in a crashed car is found with the latest victim in the car boot. But he is suffering from amnesia. Escaping from the hospital he takes a nurse (Francesca Eastwood) hostage and a Stockholm Syndrome situation develops. While the actions of some of the characters seem incredible at times this is a tension filled thriller. The rural and small town settings where the murders take place are endowed with an eerie feel when combined with flashbacks of the discovery of the bodies. It's reminiscent of some episodes of the Hannibal TV series without being a rip off. Meyers has visions of being close to the bodies but earlier in the film we see his car being forced off the road. There is perhaps one plot twist too many but both Meyers and Eastwood put in convincing performances. Director Aleksandr Cherynaev working from a script by Elana Zeltser delivers a diverting Serial Killer film which kept me entertained until the end. 6.5/10. On Netflix.
I can't get over the over the top sloppy bandage
jljemd-3927212 December 2019
Giving 5/10 stars, but I can't continue to watch it. Every time I see that ridiculous bandage it takes me out of the story. I have never seen such an abomination. You definitely won't see something like that in an actual hospital. If the filmmakers can't even make that detail look right, how can it be a good movie?
One of the most idiotic films...
tchitouniaram5 September 2019
One of the most idiotic films...Jonathan Rhys Meyers once was a reasonably decent actor, what the hell happened???Story is like a regurgitated fur ball of bad writing, plot holes and pieces of better movies put together,like a Frankenstein monster...Giving 3 stars ,cause being objective , there are even worse films...
Utterly disappointing...
Very simple
rasheedazzam10 August 2019
Decent Serial Killer Thriller
Freedom06028630 September 2020
A very good performance by Jonathan Meyers and some quality direction made this movie worth watching.
Although the basic plot was fine, some parts of the story perhaps should have gone into more depth and detail.
But overall, it's a decent serial killer thriller.
Although the basic plot was fine, some parts of the story perhaps should have gone into more depth and detail.
But overall, it's a decent serial killer thriller.
Deadly slumber.
Sleepin_Dragon30 November 2019
The whole premise of this film revolves around one single question, is he guilty or not. The journey to that destination is hit and miss, some aspects are good, some aren't. The main issue here is the predictability, the narrative is plotted out in such a way that you know what's happening before it even does, there is an inevitability to the story, even the ending.
I feel that people are quick to deem a film such as this with a one or two star simply because they do not like it, there are elements here which are middle of the road, production values are decent, it's nicely made, and the acting is decent, I am a big fan of Jonathan Rhys Meyers, but the Irishman is underused.
Some of the imagery could have been better realised, with some of the flashback scenes looking as though they were made for a school project.
It's semi watchable, approach it with low expectations and you may just enjoy it.
The cop was likeable, and as a fellow caffeine addict I found him pretty entertaining.
It feels like another of those thrillers that could, and should have been fantastic, so often they just lack a little gritty realism, as Awake did. 5/10
I feel that people are quick to deem a film such as this with a one or two star simply because they do not like it, there are elements here which are middle of the road, production values are decent, it's nicely made, and the acting is decent, I am a big fan of Jonathan Rhys Meyers, but the Irishman is underused.
Some of the imagery could have been better realised, with some of the flashback scenes looking as though they were made for a school project.
It's semi watchable, approach it with low expectations and you may just enjoy it.
The cop was likeable, and as a fellow caffeine addict I found him pretty entertaining.
It feels like another of those thrillers that could, and should have been fantastic, so often they just lack a little gritty realism, as Awake did. 5/10
Awake 2019
gurumaggie12 June 2020
It had more potentional...
carleemason16 September 2019
It was okay, but it lacked with the acting. The female actress Diana (Francesca Eastwood), and Frank (Malik Yoba), the detective, were both very cheesy actors. The premise itself is good, and does catch you off guard, but it is also like a 1990's thriller movie. It reminds me of the 1993 film Striking Distance. It was almost too similarly portrayed to movies that have already been made and nothing really set it apart other than the main actor having amnesia.
Great movie
romes-4415619 August 2019
Been done before but I enjoyed the ending, actors.
bramstayer25 November 2019
Seems like they are producing so many thriller, horror & mystery films that the quality over quantity has been reversed. Has a decent ending. Good actors. Some far fetched behaviours by the nurse but we have seen these things done with bigger stars. (Kinda like the village mystery, they will never stop making them even though it would mean some small towns would then have a higher murder rate than border towns in Mexico! )🙄LOL fine for a simple mystery flick in the afternoon. NETFLIX should consider how they spend all their new content money, as there are alot of these sorta almost good but kinda cheap 95 min flix .....like if they made 250 comic book or superhero based stories all in a 5 yr period...oh wait. Well at least for fans of good thrillers or mysteries we have ALOT to wade through. Some better than others. I got thru this one and I give up after 45 min if its too dumb. Is that a good review!?😅😁 I liked the nurse she has a great future!
Feeling generous with the stars
emberins1 August 2019
Who paid for this?
jarrett201428 November 2019
lazy
katastrofkatt4 September 2019
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