Netflix just debuted his latest apocalyptic thriller, Awake, and here’s our review. But is the new sleep-deprived apocalyptic world thrilling or a snooze fest?
We’re going to start with the obvious. The Gina Rodriguez lead-thriller rocks because of her. There have been a few comparisons between Awake and Bird Box lately, and we’re curious which would win.
Awake is a thriller where people can’t sleep anymore. That damages their mental health very quickly, and they get angry and violent. Rodriguez’s character, Jill, is a mother who tries to protect their children in the midst of the apocalypse.
Netflix seems to have had great ideas for movies this year, and Awake is one of them, so let’s hop right into our review.
The movie starts off with some scenes that have no meaning for the rest of the movie. We find out Jill works as a security guard and sells pills on the side to make a little money. She has two children, and her husband died in the war.
Then, as she was driving her children home, everything with electricity shuts down. We later find out that no one can sleep.
Murphy, the psychiatrist Jill works with explains the apocalypse in the movie as: “It was some sort of a solar flare. It changed our electromagnetic wiring. It affected our glymphatic system. Messed with our clocks.”
But the movie has no explanation for the apocalypse. They say that people go mad if they’re sleep deprived. And they do. Some sooner than others. And, just like any other apocalyptic movie, we see who the real problem is: people.
A government-run organization is trying to find a cure, but they’re on a quest against our internal clocks.
It’s safe to say Gina Rodriguez carries the movie easily. Her acting is great, showing she can do any type of movie from romantic comedies, apocalyptic thriller and sci-fi. She can easily portray the feelings a mother has when protecting her children, and she is a natural.
However, the gap between her and her son-on-the-screen is 17 years, and it makes them look more like brothers. Actor Lucius Hoyos is 19 years old, and Jill alludes she had him when she was just a teenager. But it might be more about Gina’s complexion that doesn’t convince the viewer she could have such a big son.
Mark Raso (Kodachrome) directed the movie, and wrote the script alongside Joseph Raso and Gregory Poirier. Hoyos and Ariana Greenblatt‘s performances also keep us on our toes, Greenblatt exceeding expectations. Shamier Anderson also adds a different gravity with his performance as supporting role.
There are quite a few scenes without meaning, or they don’t show us more of it. There are a lot of single take shots that gets you into the movie, and it also offers some intense action scenes.
After going through a pandemic, we can totally relate to the fact that mental health plays a big role in our lives as a society. So we got pissed off enough for not leaving the house, can you imagine not being able to sleep for days?
For an hour and a half duration, the movie clearly has a good idea. Gina Rodriguez is also totally worth it, and while some scenes don’t make sense, the movie is entertaining, but it won’t make history.
Tell me if you agree this review for the latest Netflix movie, Awake.
