Review of The Awakening (2011) by Kirsty H — 13 Nov 2011

For the most part, The Awakening is a superb ghost story with terrific production values. Rebecca Hall's first lead role sees her playing the part of a 1920s ghost de-bunker; a woman who has garnered a distinguished reputation for sniffing out paranormal trickery & getting those who perpetrate it on innocent victims put behind bars. However, when she is called in to investigate the death of a young boy at a boarding school, she starts to question her own skepticism. Could there be some truth in the ghost story?

Unsurprisingly, things start to go bump in the night and there are plenty of well crafted creepy moments as this film winds up to its climax. By and large the conventions of the haunted house story are kept in-play, with little deviation from the formula - though this is not necessarily a bad thing. The cast are first rate & the period setting is wonderfully captured in all its faded glory, but the big problem is the ending. It's too much, too late. Some might even say it's just a little bit daft. There are also some shenanigans with the school handyman that don't go anywhere, but overall this is a well made and engaging ghost story.