The Awakening (2011)

Release date: 2011-11-11
Country: UK
Language: English|French
Director: Nick Murphy
Production Co: StudioCanal, BBC Films, Creative Scotland
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Rating: 6.5/10
Length: 1h 42min

Storyline

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.

Plot Keywords

ghost, murder suicide, school uniform, classroom, dollhouse, little boy, author, seance, male rear nudity, footprint, twist ending, haunted house, female protagonist, ghost child, 1920s, post war, reading aloud, british horror, nudity, f rated

Short Review

Though the story spirals a little out of control in the film's final scenes, "The Awakening" offers the low-key pleasures of an old-fashioned thriller and a lovely central performance.