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From Amazon.co.uk
Starring Dominic West (The Wire, 300), Rebecca Hall (The Town) and Oscar®-nominee Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake), The Awakening is the chilling new supernatural thriller from Nick Murphy. In post-World War I England in 1921, an author and paranormal skeptic (Hall) is invited to a countryside boarding school by the head master (West) to investigate rumours of an apparent haunting. But just when she thinks she has debunked the ghost theory, she has a chilling encounter which makes her question all her rational beliefs.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Behind the scenes, Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: In 1921, in London, the arrogant and skeptical Florence Cathcart is famous for exposing hoaxes and helping the police to arrest con artists. The stranger Robert Mallory tells her that the headmaster of a boarding school in Rookford had invited her to travel to Cumbria to investigate a ghost that is frightening the pupils to death. He also tells that many years ago there was a murder in the estate and recently pupil Walter Portman had died. The reluctant Florence finally accepts to go to Cumbria. On arrival, she is welcomed by governess Maud and the boy Thomas Hill. Soon Florence discovers what had happened to Walter and then the students, teachers and staff are released on vacation, and Florence remains alone with Robert, Maud and Tom in the school. Florence is ready to leave the boarding school when strange things happen, leaving Florence scared. ...The Awakening (2011)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By Laura C
Format:DVD
For me this is exactly the type of ghosty flick I enjoy. Nothing full of gore and unnecessary blood with disgusting, messed up faces lunging at the screen as a freak way of adding a scare. I probably sound incredibly dull but I love ghosty films that have the suspense and creepiness throughout the film then ends with a sudden twist that (for me) makes me understand why everything happened in the film and makes me less creeped out by it - because i do want to get to sleep at night.
This film certainly will go on my dvd shelf along with The Others, An American Haunting and The Orphanage as well as other films that didn't need blood and fancy special effects to make the hair on the back of my neck prick up.
This film certainly will go on my dvd shelf along with The Others, An American Haunting and The Orphanage as well as other films that didn't need blood and fancy special effects to make the hair on the back of my neck prick up.
51 of 60 people found the following review helpful
By Rodders
Format:DVD
The film is very atmospheric and a great traditional British haunted house story.
It does help if you have a knowledge of spiritualism and how research into the paranormal is conducted because it makes it easier to accept the plot line that there are rational explanations to so called hauntings. But sometimes there simply is no explanation and even the most hardened researchers get 'sucked-in'. This film covers both aspects and adds a yearning to come to terms with personal grief against the back drop of the horrendous loss of young life in the Great War and the physiological impact on those who survived.
If you enjoyed the 'Sixth Sense' and 'The Others' then 'The Awakening' is right up your street. Great performances from Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.
It does help if you have a knowledge of spiritualism and how research into the paranormal is conducted because it makes it easier to accept the plot line that there are rational explanations to so called hauntings. But sometimes there simply is no explanation and even the most hardened researchers get 'sucked-in'. This film covers both aspects and adds a yearning to come to terms with personal grief against the back drop of the horrendous loss of young life in the Great War and the physiological impact on those who survived.
If you enjoyed the 'Sixth Sense' and 'The Others' then 'The Awakening' is right up your street. Great performances from Rebecca Hall, Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Lorna
Format:DVD
Great atmospheric film with twists & turns throughout. One of those old-fashioned spooky ones that made me jump in my seat a few times. I prefer this kind of creepy horror to the recent torture & gory fests that seem to be appearing.
There are a few twists & turns as you find out why Florence has been brought to the house & what happened there before. The ending is even a twist in sorts in itself, as it's left to you to work out.
Recommended if you like The Others, The Woman in Black, Skeleton Key etc.
There are a few twists & turns as you find out why Florence has been brought to the house & what happened there before. The ending is even a twist in sorts in itself, as it's left to you to work out.
Recommended if you like The Others, The Woman in Black, Skeleton Key etc.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
Format:Blu-ray
The good old fashioned ghost story is back, in the form of cinema. The likes of `Paranormal Activity' and `The Orphanage' in 2007 have helped green light many a decent chiller since. These are stories that forgo the gruel of `Saw' style movies and instead rely on the classic scares and atmosphere of a `The Haunting' or `The Innocents'. `The Awakening' follows in these footsteps of the genre, with the cynical Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) visiting an all-boys boarding school during a school break to investigate a series of mysterious happenings.
It takes a combination of several things to tell a good movie ghost story and `The Awakening' gets most of them right. Good casting is a start and in Hall and Dominic West they have two more-than-capable leads. Atmosphere is the next things and director Nick Murphy provides this by the bucket load with creepy shots. He is aided in no small way by some eerie sets and great sound effects/music. Finally, the story itself must hold up. Like with many ghost stories the premise of `The Awakening' is a basic one, but it feels believable and packs a big enough punch at the end so you feel your time has not been wasted.
A film like this lives and dies by the subtly of the scares and it is here that `The Awakening' is a triumph. The slow build up, coupled with shock moments means that you spend the entire film on the edge of your seat. My partner for one was terrified, without being put off by too much gore. The only real downside to `The Awakening' is that it is so traditional. It is a classic ghost story told in a classic way, but with modern techniques and sensibilities added for the scares. There is nothing truly fresh about the film, but it does the classic things well.... Read more ›
It takes a combination of several things to tell a good movie ghost story and `The Awakening' gets most of them right. Good casting is a start and in Hall and Dominic West they have two more-than-capable leads. Atmosphere is the next things and director Nick Murphy provides this by the bucket load with creepy shots. He is aided in no small way by some eerie sets and great sound effects/music. Finally, the story itself must hold up. Like with many ghost stories the premise of `The Awakening' is a basic one, but it feels believable and packs a big enough punch at the end so you feel your time has not been wasted.
A film like this lives and dies by the subtly of the scares and it is here that `The Awakening' is a triumph. The slow build up, coupled with shock moments means that you spend the entire film on the edge of your seat. My partner for one was terrified, without being put off by too much gore. The only real downside to `The Awakening' is that it is so traditional. It is a classic ghost story told in a classic way, but with modern techniques and sensibilities added for the scares. There is nothing truly fresh about the film, but it does the classic things well.... Read more ›
25 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Elk2011
Format:DVD
As a keen horror fan, this movie sounded like it was right up my street and having looked at some reviews online which were heavily favourable, I was hopeful it would be a great watch. Perhaps because my expectations were set so high, this film did leave me a little disappointed....
The movie started off well, with an interesting and charming lead character (played by Rebecca Hall) who you take an instant liking to. As a ghost "hunter" set on disproving the existence of ghosts and exposing people who fake them for financial gain, she doesn't fall into the typical haunting "victim" category. When she's asked to investigate a haunting at a boys boarding school, it starts off well - the first night having lots of activity which keeps you in suspense waiting for that moment you know is coming where something will make you jump - unfortunately it didn't really come but the suspense was good enough to keep me engaged anyway.
Unfortunately after that, the plot seems to go downhill and become somewhat disjointed with several scenes that just don't seem to add anything to the story or really e.g. falling into the lake, the attempted rape etc.
<WARNING - THE NEXT PARAGRAPHS CONTAIN SPOILERS. SKIP TO LAST PARAGRAPH TO AVOID>
Other scenes just made no sense once you realise that Tom is a ghost for example, who did Robert believe Florence was speaking to about her fiancée if not Tom? Did he hear just her side of the conversation? If so, it would have made no sense!
I also felt that several bits of the plot were left as loose ends when they really needn't have been.... Read more ›
The movie started off well, with an interesting and charming lead character (played by Rebecca Hall) who you take an instant liking to. As a ghost "hunter" set on disproving the existence of ghosts and exposing people who fake them for financial gain, she doesn't fall into the typical haunting "victim" category. When she's asked to investigate a haunting at a boys boarding school, it starts off well - the first night having lots of activity which keeps you in suspense waiting for that moment you know is coming where something will make you jump - unfortunately it didn't really come but the suspense was good enough to keep me engaged anyway.
Unfortunately after that, the plot seems to go downhill and become somewhat disjointed with several scenes that just don't seem to add anything to the story or really e.g. falling into the lake, the attempted rape etc.
<WARNING - THE NEXT PARAGRAPHS CONTAIN SPOILERS. SKIP TO LAST PARAGRAPH TO AVOID>
Other scenes just made no sense once you realise that Tom is a ghost for example, who did Robert believe Florence was speaking to about her fiancée if not Tom? Did he hear just her side of the conversation? If so, it would have made no sense!
I also felt that several bits of the plot were left as loose ends when they really needn't have been.... Read more ›
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Great film in the ghost/horror genre. Still wondering about the ending.....won't spoil it for others. Well made and well acted.
Published 3 days ago by JdC
5.0 out of 5 stars
A surprise hit...
I totally enjoyed this film. I originally bought this on DVD earlier in the year, and made time to sit down and watch it. I'm very glad I did. Read more
Published 7 days ago by GB76
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good old-fashioned Ghost story with a twist
Spooky, enthralling, great twist.
It was nice to watch a film that kept you in suspense but didn't include the usual gore and standard scare tactics to keep the audience... Read more
It was nice to watch a film that kept you in suspense but didn't include the usual gore and standard scare tactics to keep the audience... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Witchchild
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good thriller
A decent little atmospheric ghost story. Refreshingly free of the cheap scares currently associated with '15' rated so-called horror movies, and virtually gore-free. Read more
Published 1 month ago by richard
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Awakening
Good film, watched it with my grand daughter who is nearly 16. Takes pride of place in my DVD cabinet
Published 2 months ago by Susan E Cook
5.0 out of 5 stars
the awakening [2011] dvd
this is a brilliant ghost story starring the great actor dominic west of the hour fame it is very creepy in places i give it 10 out of 10
Published 2 months ago by Julie Dalton
5.0 out of 5 stars
great
thought i was not going to b good but really got into it good story line and great twist the ending was sad though but apart from that it was a good movie i really enjoyed it
Published 2 months ago by Rachel
1.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
This was not in the least bit scary the movie was alright however it did go on too long. Not happy
Published 2 months ago by elaine jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
worth a watch
enjoyed somewhat, however not scary at all. More like an intense version of Poirot but the detective in this film is played out by the very beautiful Rebecca Hall. Read more
Published 3 months ago by CMI-UK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superior!
s i m p l y d o e s n ' t g e t a n y b e t t e r !
Published 4 months ago by Christian Edlmayer
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