Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
After a sudden global event wipes out all electronics and takes away humankind’s ability to sleep, chaos quickly begins to consume the world. Only Jill, an ex-soldier with a troubled past, may hold the key to a cure in the form of her own daughter. The question is, can Jill safely deliver her daughter and save the world before she herself loses her mind.
Awake (2021) is a largely forgettable sci-fi thriller that squanders an intriguing premise. The sleep-deprivation apocalypse concept has potential but the execution is by-the-numbers: a reluctant hero parent protecting a special child through a collapsing world. The plot meanders without strong tension or payoff, and character motivations feel underdeveloped. The acting, including Jennifer Jason Leigh in a wasted supporting role and Gina Rodriguez in the lead, is serviceable but constrained by a weak script. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable. The film offers little that distinguishes it from countless other post-apocalyptic survival thrillers on streaming platforms. The ending feels rushed and unsatisfying, failing to capitalize on the buildup. Across all categories it lands solidly below average, consistent with its middling reputation.