Dead Awake (2010)

BRIEF BLU-RAY REVIEW:I believe that this was shot on 16 mm film. So, you have a pretty gritty, primitive, high-contrasty look to the movie. This isn't your usual glossy new looking film, but I feel that it's unique, stark look really lends itself to the story.Now, to the movie... I had seen this film quite some time ago and I vaguely remember that I did like it. But, I just now watched it again on Blu-ray and I found that I still very much enjoyed it. Actually, I was kind of surprised that I liked this movie that much. Normally I do not care for 'Drama' heavy films, no matter the Genre. BUT... I really liked the way the movie was done, so that you had a nice, tense feel of light Horror, and a definite sense of Mystery, and along with that also a very touching and moving story surrounding this young man and what has been going on the last 10 years of his life.The story itself is VERY simple. It is not the kind of movie where you have anything really intense or shocking. It is very moody, but in a simple way. You might have to give it a chance to get going a bit before you quite get into what is going on. The acting is very good by everyone involved. I'm not necessarily a HUGE fan of Nick Stahl, but I felt that he did a fine job here, along with everyone else. The director gave the film a nice sense of Mystery and tension. And understandably, the audience may not quite be sure as to what the deal is with this guy or the meaning of the flashbacks that occur. But, this is one of those stories that becomes clear as you progress through it, and of course especially when you get to the end.***PLEASE*** be very careful in reading about this film before you see it. I NEVER cease to be completely amazed at the brainless STUPIDITY and lack of any good sense or consideration by the NumbNut Donkey-Sucking Dickweeds here who blurt out key plot points to the films that they 'review'... Pure, PHUK'n Idiots, if you ask me... Anyway, please do read with care, or better yet, just watch the movie and see what you think. To give you some guidance WITHOUT mindlessly giving anything away, just know that this film TECHNICALLY has some metaphysical themes, but is primarily Drama and character driven. Like I mentioned, normally I really don't get very excited about films that are weighted more toward 'Drama', but in this case I feel that the story is told in such a way as to draw the audience into what is happening and involve them. This is NOT really a true Horror film, so if that is what you are looking for, then you should pass on this one. But, if you don't mind a bit of a low-key, Drama driven quasi-Supernatural / Metaphysical film about Death, etc., then you might end up enjoying it like I did.

"Dead Awake" is one of the strangest movies I have seen in quite some time. Obviously, it was inspired by "The Sixth Sense", though the mystery angle has been increased, as well as with its strangeness. It's directed in a really bizarre way, in an anonymous style (and with anonymous locations) that for the longest time made me think the movie was shot in a foreign country and the filmmakers were trying hard to disguise things. Stranger, however, is the screenplay. While the big questions the movie brings up are eventually answered, there are several minor questions that remained unanswered, like the mysterious policeman character at the beginning as well as the status of Nick Stahl's character at the end of the movie. While the movie is offbeat enough to make its ninety-two minutes never boring, in the end I feel most viewers will be unsatisfied because it doesn't quite give enough explanation.

It boggles the mind that movies this bad continue to get made. One can only wonder, can anyone write or tell (direct) a coherent story in Hollywood these days? The description for this movie talks about the main character faking his own death, and indeed there is a single scene that deals with this intriguing idea. But the movie is more about death and atonement for one's choices while living.There are plot holes you could drive a sixteen wheeler through, including the main character being shot twice at point blank range and not suffering so much as a scratch; and a would be guardian angel, who though dead, can register vitals on hospital equipment and interact with the living as a normal living human being (for ten years, no less).Mix in some David Lynch-ian like purposely nebulous confusion and you've got a recipe for the typical piece of **** film that leaves the viewer wondering: "are the writers really this stupid, or is it just them trying to be too clever by half".The only silver lining for me was that my girlfriend got it for free with a coupon deal at Redbox. Mercifully, we paid nothing to view it, which is exactly what it was worth.

Dylan O'Rourke ( Nick Stahl ) is a young man living in a state of depression after suffering the loss of both of his parents in one fateful night ten years prior. Unable to cope with the weight of his guilt, Dylan retracts from society, unable to continue with his girlfriend Natalie (Amy Smart) again and worse...unable to bring himself to visit his parents' grave. He now spends his time as a recluse, working in perhaps the most depressing environment of all - a Funeral Home. While overseeing a packed funeral for an old high school friend, fate takes it's course and he comes face to face with Natalie. His boss - a burly Undertaker named Dekko ( keenly played by unknown Brian Lynner ) inspires him to stage his own funeral to see who would show up. He tells Dylan "You can tell a man's character by who shows up at his funeral." Sadly, just two people show; Natalie and a crack junkie named Charlie Scheel (Rose MCGowan in her strongest performance yet.) Regardless of the small turnout, Dylan is set on a path to reconnect with his long lost love and Charlie. He eventually finds Charlie in the seediest of crack dens and after revealing himself, he inadvertently forces her to believe that he is an angel that has come to take her away from this hell she lives in. Moments later, Charlie's drug dealer / pimp puts two slugs into Dylan at point blank range but the bullets pass through him in divine intervention. Dylan befriends Charlie but cannot get her to believe that he is very much alive and not the angel she believes him to be. She tells him "The walking dead are all around us and that there are dead who are in an unbreakable state of denial. They so strongly believe they are alive, that they become visible and real to those in the world of the living." She asks him "what is is like when you die?" And tells him "I'm not ready to go just yet because I have to get clean first and when I get clean, then you can come and take me." Days later, Dylan finds Charlie OD'd in her crack den. He brings her to the hospital and into a heavy blanket of coincidence - or perhaps something else - when Natalie arrives on the scene as Charlie's nurse. Dyalan and Natalie reconnect on old times while Charlie recovers in bed. Dylan tries to find purpose in his "wasted life" and takes his entire savings to the man - an aging gangster - who owns Charlie. He ultimately frees Charlie by paying off the gangster and settling her $20,000 debt. Upon doing so, he spots an unmistakable Claddagh Ring an and among the gangster's collection of stolen items laid out on the table before him - a ring that belonged to his parents. Dylan storms back to the hospital and forces Charlie to admit her guilt - that she was the one who brought the ring to the gangster. But Charlie goes further, admitting that she was the driver of the cab - one that she stole to feed her drug habit - that killed his parents. Dylan explodes and storms off, not wanting anything to do with Charlie for the most obvious of reasons.Charlie leaves a voice mail with Dylan, telling him to meet her on the roof of the hospital. Charlie goes there and finds Charlie about to commit suicide. He attempts to talk her down from the ledge but Charlie refuses until Dylan admits his love for Natalie. Dylan professes his everlasting love for Natalie just as she arrives on the rooftop as Charlie's other invited guest. Their everlasting love now realized, Natalie dumps her unloving husband for Dylan. They visit Dylan's parents grave at the cemetery with Dekko and Dekko's wife (unknown Kim Grimaldi in a strong performance) before setting out on a new beginning together.The film concludes with the revelation - a solid twist - that Charlie has been dead all along and is actually Dylan's guardian angel. Unwilling to accept her death as it occurred in the cab with Dylan's parents, she had become the walking dead. From here, we surmise Detective Milano was also the walking dead, a guardian angel. He tells Dylan "I'm just here to look after you is all." If you feel the need to give a helping hand to those who need it most and / or have ever experienced true love, love lost, loneliness, desperation, isolation, doubt and fear among all that life brings, then you will find a resounding, strong and uplifting message within Dead Awake. This piece rises above the negativity that incorrect audience expectations tend to invite with them. I'd give this a 9/10 if it weren't for that over cooked, cringing music score that almost swallows the last half. Man...that score sets the bar low. It's almost as if the composer locked him/herself in the editing room without a key. Dead Awake is a great story that is well written and well told. Omar Naim's direction is solid overall. Forgiveness is easy to grant on the choppy and confusing flashback sequences and I'll even add some additional applause for the stylishness behind Charlie's POV - what I believe is her guardian angel aura? I'm certain it was. When all is said and done, this is the type of movie that will always give you more every time you sit down with it. You can't expect more than that from a low budget effort. Well done!