England is grieving post-WWI and Florence Cathcart, brilliantly played by Rebecca Hall (“The Town”), is running around exposing hoaxes by charlatans preying on the vulnerable who are desperate to communicate with the dead.
An educated non-believer who has written a successful book, Seeing Through Ghosts, Cathcart has been instrumental in helping the police arrest con artists. She is well-respected in her field. Due to her reputation, she has been summoned by Robert Mallory, a history teacher at an all boys’ boarding prep school. Mallory, played by Dominic West (HBO’s “The Wire”), has turned to the reluctant Cathcart to implore her to investigate the recent death of a student believed to have died of fright after seeing the ghost of a murdered boy.
The sinister school marm, Maud Hill, is played to perfection by Imelda Staunton (“Vera Drake”). If she doesn’t give you the willies, the creepy dollhouse sure will. A young, sensitive pupil named Tom is played well by Isaac Hempstead Wright, an actor who seems wiser than his years.
Video: The Awakening trailer
Cathcart, who is haunted by the death of her fiance, is a complex and compelling character. Hall describes her as, “fierce, competent, intelligent and strong but also incredibly vulnerable, conflicted and lost.” This is Hall’s first leading role in a film and it could turn into one of many more to come. This is also director Nick Murphy’s first feature. “The Awakening” was co-written by Murphy and Stephen Volk.
It is refreshing to see such an original story in this spine tingly mix of horror, suspense, mystery and thrills. The film is excellent until it falls apart a bit at the end. That doesn’t ruin the movie experience though, so it’s well worth going to see. The acting is far better than most films in this genre, and the scenery and atmosphere are superb. Chances are you’ll get pleasantly spooked.
If you enjoyed “The Orphanage” and “The Others” this flick is for you.
Written for the Examiner
