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Action thriller

Awake (2019): Cast, Ratings & Plot

Awake (2019) movie poster

Awake is a 2019 action thriller directed by Aleksandr Chernyaev, starring William Forsythe as Roger Bower, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Malik Yoba. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes. Critics gave it 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10.

IMDb rating
4.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes
23%
Echo Score
45
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Awake (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 32m (92 min)
Genres
Action , Thriller , Crime
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Awake About?

The premise of Awake without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After a global catastrophe silences technology and steals the ability to sleep, one woman fights to restore balance to a world consumed by perpetual wakefulness. Driven by hope for her daughter’s future, she embarks on a perilous journey to discover the cause of the crisis and find a way to bring back the lost ability to rest, facing unknown dangers along the way.

Awake Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • soldier
  • electronics
  • solution
  • insomnia
  • t bone car crash
  • one word title
  • single mother
  • conspiracy theorist
  • hospital
  • head wound
  • car in a lake
  • expired medicine
+38 more
  • drug dealer
  • global catastrophe
  • mother in law daughter in law relationship
  • mother son relationship
  • mother daughter relationship
  • redheaded woman
  • woman meditates
  • meditation
  • creaking floorboards
  • worried mother
  • car crash
  • stargazing
  • mother son talk
  • riding a bicycle
  • sleeping pill
  • profanity
  • female security guard
  • church
  • pastor
  • former drug addict
  • prayer
  • stealing a bicycle
  • murder of a police officer
  • finding a dead body
  • reference to pontius pilate
  • shot in the back of the head
  • police officer commits murder
  • threatened with a gun
  • running through the woods
  • mother carries daughter piggy back
  • head kicked in
  • stomping on someone's head
  • hiding under a table
  • woman crawls on the floor
  • garage
  • brother sister relationship
  • brother sister talk
  • custody arrangement
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Cast & crew

Awake Cast & Characters

William Forsythe leads the cast as Roger Bower, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers as John Doe and Malik Yoba as Frank Ward. Directed by Aleksandr Chernyaev; 17 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Awake Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Awake 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 4.9/10. Our Echo Score gives it 45/100, strongest in rewatch factor (60) and weakest in character & emotion (30).

45 /100

Awake Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Awake struggles to maintain a consistent tone despite a handful of effective suspense moments. Critiques point to a plot that starts slowly, suffers from slack pacing, and relies on implausible medical contrivances that undermine engagement. At the same time, several reviewers appreciated the thriller’s twists and stylish moments, noting that the film can be diverting when one suspends disbelief. The net impression is of a mixed thriller that provides intermittent excitement but is weighed down by uneven execution and credibility issues.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 45

    In terms of art and craft, the film exhibits moments of visual flair but falters in editing and production consistency. Reviewers noted stylish set pieces and confident framing alongside awkward wardrobe choices and jarring cuts that disrupt narrative flow. This uneven craftsmanship leaves the visual presentation feeling intermittently polished yet frequently unsettled, diminishing overall cohesion.

  • Character & Emotion 30

    When it comes to character and emotional depth, performances are inconsistent and often fail to resonate. Several critics highlighted muted or exaggerated acting choices and problematic accents that hinder believability. While a few supporting moments convey vulnerability, the leads offer limited chemistry, resulting in characters that rarely sustain genuine emotional engagement throughout the story.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Regarding story and flow, Awake offers an intriguing premise and occasional suspenseful twists but suffers from pacing lapses and logical gaps. Critics cited a sluggish opening, reliance on far-fetched medical elements, and a chaotic third act that undercuts narrative coherence. Despite moments of genuine tension, the plot’s uneven structure and implausible developments undermine sustained engagement.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    In terms of sensory experience, the film delivers intermittent visual style and sound design that support its thriller ambitions. Reviewers praised occasional stylish cinematography and a moody atmosphere but noted a lack of a memorable score and underutilized soundscapes. The result is a modest sensory environment that heightens select sequences without establishing a consistently immersive aural or visual identity.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    As for rewatch factor, the movie provides occasional enjoyment through its twist-driven moments, appealing to viewers who appreciate thriller gimmicks. Several reviewers described it as diverting on repeated viewings when one embraces its implausibilities. However, the film’s credibility issues and uneven execution limit its lasting appeal, making it unlikely to reward many subsequent viewings.

Plot

Awake Plot Summary

What happens in Awake from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Former U.S. Army medic and recovering addict, Jill Adams, finds herself working as a security guard at a local college, where she resorts to stealing drugs from the research lab for sale. After her shift, she picks up her children, Noah and Matilda, from their grandmother, Doris. However, their troubles escalate when their car unexpectedly loses power and is struck by another vehicle, sending it crashing into a lake. While Matilda nearly drowns, she is miraculously revived by a police officer who reveals that a widespread electrical failure is causing chaos.

Full summary

The whole story of Awake, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

Awake Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Awake.

Awake - Offical Trailer (Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Francesca Eastwood)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Awake?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What was Jill Adams' profession before becoming a security guard?

Details

Awake Also Known As

16 alternative titles, including “Wake Up” and “Jaque al asesino”.

Also known as
  • Wake Up
  • Jaque al asesino
  • Wake Up - Il risveglio
  • Амнезия
  • 真相
  • Събуди се
  • 시리얼 킬러 연쇄살인범
  • O Despertar de Um Assassino
  • 殺機追緝令
  • להתעורר
  • Uyanış
  • Morderca bez pamięci
+4 more
  • El despertar de un asesino
  • Прокидайся
  • بیداری
  • Awake - Der Alptraum beginnt

Seen Awake?

FAQ

Awake FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Awake, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Awake?

Awake runs 1 hour 32 minutes (92 minutes).

When was Awake released?

Awake was released on August 16, 2019.

Who directed Awake?

Awake was directed by Aleksandr Chernyaev.

Who is in the cast of Awake?

Awake stars William Forsythe as Roger Bower, Jonathan Rhys Meyers as John Doe and Malik Yoba as Frank Ward, among 17 credited actors.

How is Awake rated?

Awake has 4.9/10 on IMDb, 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54% on TMDB and 2.3/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Awake have a post-credit scene?

No. Awake has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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