HorrorThrillerMystery

The Awakening

- Sometimes dead does not mean gone.

In post–War England, a writer and sometime-ghost hunter investigates a reported haunting at a boys boarding school.

Release Date : 2011-08-17

Language :FrenchEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : BBC FilmLipsync ProductionsCreative ScotlandOrigin PicturesStudioCanal

Production Country : United KingdomFrance

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Florence Cathcart

Original Name : Rebecca Hall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Robert Mallory

Original Name : Dominic West

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maud Hill

Original Name : Imelda Staunton

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tom

Original Name : Isaac Hempstead Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Constance Strickland

Original Name : Lucy Cohu

Gender : Female

Character Name : Freddie Strickland

Original Name : Cal MacAninch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reverend Hugh Purslow

Original Name : John Shrapnel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harriet Cathcart

Original Name : Diana Kent

Gender : Female

Character Name : Alexander Cathcart

Original Name : Richard Durden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Victor Parry

Original Name : Alfie Field

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vera Flood

Original Name : Tilly Vosburgh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Albert Flood

Original Name : Ian Hanmore

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Vandermeer

Original Name : Andrew Havill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dorothy Vandermeer

Original Name : Anastasia Hille

Gender : Female

Character Name : Edward Judd

Original Name : Joseph Mawle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Malcolm McNair

Original Name : Shaun Dooley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant Evans

Original Name : Steven Cree

Gender : Male

Character Name : Julian Dowden

Original Name : Felix Soper

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Franklin

Original Name : Sidney Johnston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alistair Howell

Original Name : Spike White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chris Hartley

Original Name : Charlie Callaghan

Gender : Male

Character Name : William Ramsbottom

Original Name : James Kirkham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard McGorian

Original Name : Ewan Andrew Walker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Max Tebbitts

Original Name : Adam Thomas Wright

Gender : Male

Character Name : Child Impostor

Original Name : Ben Greaves-Neal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain Mills

Original Name : Daniel Pirrie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Edgar Hirsthwit

Original Name : Nicholas Amer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Teacher 1

Original Name : Nick Murphy

Gender : Male

Character Name : School Master (uncredited)

Original Name : Neil Broome

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

There's no place on earth people understand loneliness better than here. The Awakening is directed by Nick Murphy and Murphy co-writes the screenplay with Stephen Volk. It stars Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Shaun Dooley and Joseph Mawle. Music is by Daniel Pemberton and cinematography by Eduard Grau. Britain, post World War 1, and Florence Cathcart (Hall) makes a living as an exposer of charlatan spiritualists, a debunker of ghost sightings. When she receives a request from school master Robert Mallory (West) to investigate the supernatural events at a remote boarding school for boys, she is suitably intrigued to take on the assignment... It comes as no surprise to find that numerous reviews for The Awakening make reference to ghost story films that were made previously. The Woman in Black released a year later would suffer the same fate, charges of it not bringing nothing new to the table etc. A ghost story set in a big mansion or remote educational/correctional establishment is what it is, and will continue to be so, all fans of such spooky fare ask is that it does it well and maybe add some adult themes into the bargain. The Awakening does these in spades. The concept of a disbeliever in ghosts having their belief system tested to the full is not new, but it's a great concept and one with longevity assured. Here, boosted by a terrific performance from Hall, the screenplay consistently keeps you guessing. The possibilities of real or faked are constant as the director pumps up the creep factor, whilst he simultaneously crafts a number of genuine shock sequences - including one of the best doll house scenes put to film! This really has all the requisite jolts and atmospheric creeps for a period spooker. It's not until the final quarter when the screenplay begins to unravel its mystery, a finale that has proved both ambiguous and divisive. The ambiguity factor is a little baffling since everything is made clear in a nicely staged scene, and this is something which the director has gone on record to state as well. As for the divisive side of things? That's a blight for this sub-genre of horror. It's convoluted! Contrived! It has been done before they cry! These are true to be sure, and without doubt there's a leap of faith required to not get annoyed, but it garners a reaction and has done its ghost story essence very well indeed. Beautifully photographed, scored and performed by the leads to boot, this is for sure one for fans of period spookers with brains. 7.5/10