Review of The Awakening (2011) by Tom B — 17 Nov 2011

If Paranormal Activity was the Coca Cola of the horror season this is very much the finest glass of Champagne. In look at least. The truth is the quality of both is the same only The Awakening while more stylish isn't nearly as scary.

Set in a boarding school in post world war 1 England, the Awakening tells of a hoax ghost catcher Florence Cathcart (Rebecca Hall) who is coaxed into visting said boarding school to expose their fake ghost.

Or so she thinks. Of course her ignorance soon turns to fear and realisation that all is not well (and it's not just the spirits by the way). The scares are kept to a minimum probably to stake up the fear of the few scares there actually are.

The ending then. Well where do you start? It comes in four parts really. And yes its a twist. First part is blindly obvious to a school child, the second completely over the top if unpredictable, the 3rd overlong and the fourth keeps you guessing.

While its dressed up as a statly horror film it's missing that key ingredient to make it essential. Ie you're forget about it soon enough.