Awake Review

There’s something very satisfying about a crime drama that no other genre can produce. Putting you in the story by asking you to try and figure out who the killer is without actually asking, following clues and suspects, evidence and red herrings, and at some point actually feeling like a detective yourself. It is what the overall intent of the writers for this genre should be. A lot of times crime dramas end up being too complicated or convoluted for my taste. This movie did a great job using an original story and non-traditional plot devices to create an unconventional type of mystery while keeping it simple, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Awake (2019) is a crime drama written by Elana Zeltser and directed by Aleksandr Chernyaev. It stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Francesca Eastwood, William Forsythe and Malik Yoba. A middle-aged John Doe (Meyers) wakes up in the hospital with amnesia after a car accident, and soon discovers that he is a suspect in a series of murders. A nurse named Diana (Eastwood) believes he is innocent and decides to help him discover the truth.

One of my favorite aspects of this film was the unique take on the mystery. From the beginning It didn’t seem like John Doe was the killer. Throughout the movie as I suspected other characters, I kept thinking that it could still be John Doe the entire time. In other words, I felt like this was a mystery that I wasn’t even sure was supposed to be, which made the whole film more intriguing.

The acting and dialogue were very good but nothing that really stood out as unique or amazing. The main thing that stood out to me in this film was the writing. The idea that you’re not even sure if the main character is completely innocent until the end, and then they throw that great plot twist that made this movie truly enjoyable and memorable.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a good crime drama with a side of mystery. I feel like a lot of crime dramas try too hard to make things realistic and end up confusing the plot. Keeping the plot and the twists easy to follow is essential for me in a crime drama and this film does it masterfully.

7.5/10

• Awake was released on August 1, 2019. It was produced by Archer Film Productions and distributed by Cinedigm Entertainment Group.
• The film was shot in Oklahoma.
• Jonathan Rhys Meyers originally auditioned for the part of Frank Ward.
• In early interviews of the film, Meyers revealed his character's identity, giving away the third act plot point and the mystery of the film.