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Stay Awake

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Stay Awake Released May 19, 2023 1h 34m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
A quietly powerful look at the ripple effects of opioid addiction, STAY AWAKE explores addiction from the lesser-seen viewpoint of the caretakers--in this case teenaged brothers Oleff and Argus. Their mother, played by Metz, is loving and well-meaning but powerless to pull herself out of the destructive cycle of her disease. The boys must put their dreams on the backburner as they're constantly discovering their mom passed out, dragging her to the hospital, and encouraging to go to rehab--with the possibility of relapse always lingering. Anchored by three superb performances, STAY AWAKE finds surprising humor and humanity amid the tragedy of parental addiction.
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Critics Consensus

Empathetic and consistently believable, Stay Awake is an uncommonly nuanced depiction of addiction's impact on the addict's family.

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Critics Reviews

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Josh Kupecki Austin Chronicle With its simple framing and naturalistic performances, Stay Awake recalls the American independent films of the Eighties. Rated: 3/5 Jul 6, 2023 Full Review Michael Rechtshaffen Los Angeles Times Stay Awake, offers a compassionate but clear-eyed take on a sadly all-too-familiar family dilemma. May 26, 2023 Full Review Matt Zoller Seitz RogerEbert.com For the most part, "Stay Awake" stays low-key and believable, particularly when the actors move through real-world locations while living their lives. Rated: 3/4 May 19, 2023 Full Review Connor Lightbody TAKE ONE Magazine it plays the endearing brotherly bond for much-needed warmth[but is] a film that doesn’t quite have enough drive or rage for the American opioid situation many find themselves in Rated: 3/5 Jul 4, 2024 Full Review Carla Hay Culture Mix Stay Awake is a searing depiction of the damage that addiction and co-dependency can do to families. This drama is impactful in showing an addicted mother trying to hold on to her two sons, as one of them wants to break free of their dysfunctional cycle. Nov 7, 2023 Full Review Nuha Hassan Nuha Hassan Stay Awake is a refreshing perspective on how it can affect people’s lives and how every decision family makes comes with a cost, whether or not they wish to leave them behind or stay. Sep 4, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tony S A well-told story about a single mom and her two sons. Mom has a prescription drug problem and frequently overdoses. Her sons support her every time. The older brother works at a bowling center and the younger son gets an Ivy League college scholarship. The younger son is determined to better his lot, while his older brother is stuck. How their lives revolve around their mother's addiction is what drives this film. Definitely worth a watch. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/03/24 Full Review Roseanne V Really poignant and timely story done in a simple way. Subtle yet powerful. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 09/12/23 Full Review Steve S My mama died of cirrhosis brought on by alcoholism, and for a few years I avoided every movie about parent addicts, because they're often sweetened up. This movie rings so true. Painful but realistic and cathartic. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/04/23 Full Review Van Buren S BEAUTIFUL FILM! TALENTED CAST! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A beautiful and poignant movie offering a fresh perspective on the opioid crisis. The cinematography is gorgeous. The performances from Wyatt and Finn are subtle and nuanced. The writing and directing is confident, allowing scenes to breath, trusting the audience to infer through subtext. The tone is sharp, lending the necessary gravity to the subject while also imbuing endearing laugh out loud levity. Just beautiful. And a killer soundtrack with a couple Gregory Alan Isakov songs. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/27/23 Full Review StephenPaul C The greatest 01 hour: and 34 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis A quietly powerful look at the ripple effects of opioid addiction, STAY AWAKE explores addiction from the lesser-seen viewpoint of the caretakers--in this case teenaged brothers Oleff and Argus. Their mother, played by Metz, is loving and well-meaning but powerless to pull herself out of the destructive cycle of her disease. The boys must put their dreams on the backburner as they're constantly discovering their mom passed out, dragging her to the hospital, and encouraging to go to rehab--with the possibility of relapse always lingering. Anchored by three superb performances, STAY AWAKE finds surprising humor and humanity amid the tragedy of parental addiction.
Director
Jamie Sisley
Producer
David Ariniello, Shrihari Sathe, Eric Schultz, Kelly Thomas
Screenwriter
Jamie Sisley
Distributor
Mar Vista Entertainment
Production Co
Dialectic, Whitewater Films, Relic Pictures
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 19, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2023
Runtime
1h 34m
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