Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- claustrophobic
- foreboding
- paranoid
- late night suspense
- medical thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics generally agreed that the premise was compelling and the suspenseful tone effective, but found the performances, direction, editing, and accumulating narrative gimmicks unconvincing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The audience shares Clay's awareness that he is conscious during surgery while the medical staff treats him as unconscious.
Clay is immobilized on an operating table and unable to communicate while surrounded by doctors and surgical equipment.
Clay's paralysis and awareness leave him unable to control or protect his own body during a major operation.
The film builds unease through Clay's trapped consciousness and the controlled atmosphere of the operating room rather than constant bloodshed.
Films like Awake, and why
Coma
Shared claustrophobic medical setting, psychological suspense, and a protagonist trapped inside a threatening situation.
The Lazarus Effect
Shared medical conspiracy, escalating paranoia, and thriller-driven investigation inside an institutional setting.
The Machinist
Shared psychological thriller structure, unreliable-seeming perceptions, and mounting uncertainty about hidden motives.
Movie Details
- Director
- Joby Harold
- Release Date
- 2007-11-28
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (1625)
Cast
- Hayden Christensen
- Jessica Alba
- Terrence Howard
- Lena Olin
- Christopher McDonald
- Sam Robards
- Arliss Howard
- Fisher Stevens
- Georgina Chapman
- David Harbour
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Awake about?
- A heart-transplant patient remains conscious but paralyzed during surgery, turning a medical procedure into a terrifying struggle to uncover who can be trusted.
- What is Awake like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Awake as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Awake violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Awake as moderate.
- What did critics think of Awake?
- Critics generally agreed that the premise was compelling and the suspenseful tone effective, but found the performances, direction, editing, and accumulating narrative gimmicks unconvincing.
- Which films are like Awake?
- Films with a similar feel include Coma, The Lazarus Effect, and The Machinist.
- How long is Awake?
- Awake runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch Awake?
- In United States, Awake streams on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
