← Back to results
Awake
2007 84 min United States of America R 16+
★5.9
Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Director: Joby Harold
Trailers
Description
While undergoing heart surgery, a man experiences a phenomenon called ‘anesthetic awareness’, which leaves him awake but paralyzed throughout the operation. As various obstacles present themselves, his wife must make life-altering decisions while wrestling with her own personal drama.
Budget:
$86M
US Gross:
$14.38M
Worldwide:
$14.37M
Starring
Hayden Christensen
Actor
Jessica Alba
Actor
Terrence Howard
Actor
Awards
Razzie Awards 2008
— Worst Actress
Razzie Awards 2008
— Worst Screen Couple
Key opinion
Awake is a polarizing thriller that pairs an intriguing, high-concept premise about conscious anesthesia with a standard melodramatic structure. While some viewers are gripped by the unexpected plot twists and emotional performances, others find the execution superficial and the surgical sequences either unconvincing or excessively graphic.
| Originality | The film hinges on a provocative central premise regarding the horrors of conscious anesthesia that successfully elicits strong physical and emotional reactions from viewers. | |
| Acting | Hayden Christensen delivers a credible performance that effectively anchors the narrative's emotional stakes. | |
| Theme | The film's exploration of the mother-son bond and the nature of familial sacrifice provides a meaningful emotional core for many viewers. | |
| Acting | Jessica Alba's casting and performance spark significant disagreement; some praise her range in an atypical role, while others dismiss her contribution as wooden or limited to her physical appeal. | |
| Production | Opinions on the operating room sequences are split; some appreciate the visceral, graphic realism, while others find the staging clumsy, unrealistic, or distracting. | |
| Pacing | The narrative's pacing divides the audience, with some appreciating the deliberate, thoughtful buildup and others finding the film underdeveloped or lacking the necessary intensity for a thriller. |