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The Awakening

Play trailer Poster for The Awakening R 2012 1h 47m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 74 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In post-World War I England a writer and sometime-ghost hunter (Rebecca Hall) investigates a reported haunting at a boys boarding school.
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The Awakening

The Awakening

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Critics Consensus

The Awakening never quite quickens the pulse the way it should, yet it remains a well-acted and handsomely assembled example of an old-fashioned supernatural thriller.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide The Times (UK) For all its pedestrian qualities, there are a couple of big plus points in its favour. They are Rebecca Hall and Dominic West. Oct 26, 2022 Full Review Moira MacDonald Seattle Times 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. Rated: 3/4 Aug 30, 2012 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Whatever. Rated: 2/4 Aug 30, 2012 Full Review Julian Singleton Cinapse Set at the peak of spiritualism in the wake of World War I, The Awakening pulls from fertile storytelling material to infuse its scares and shocks with a vibrant undercurrent of charged emotional and historical context. Jul 12, 2025 Full Review Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh The core cast and gothic setting makes for a time-honored and entertaining ghost story. Rated: 4/5 Sep 22, 2023 Full Review Jason Best What's On TV Nick Murphy has crafted an elegant haunted-house chiller that turns the screw of mystery and suspense with some cunningly judged surprises and scares. Dec 22, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jelisije J A well acted and well directed movie that deals with a female ghost hunter trying to find the truth that is happening in an all boys school that is apparently haunted by a a child ghost. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/13/25 Full Review Tim R Due to the relatively low popcorn rating this film has received, I went in with no expectations but was pleasantly surprised by how well it was put together. I found the acting is admirable and engaging while the pacing was terrific; a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon or evening. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/13/25 Full Review Elizabeth H I loved this movie - however I prefer slower-paced, gothic-infused movies. Just because a movie has a slower burn doesn't mean it can't be engaging. The somber setting, chilling music, believable story-line, and addictive performances by the Rebecca Hall and Dominic West kept me absorbed 100%. And the plot twist fit into the story-line perfectly - it didn't get plopped in nonsensically just for a cheap thrill. Gorgeous movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Ray M I enjoyed its eerie calmness and it is certainly beautifully made and acted. An interesting ghost story. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/25 Full Review Chris P A decent film with the always reliable and competent Rebecca Hall in the lead role as a professional paranormal debunker who can't outrun the ghosts of her own past. Think "The Conjuring" meets "The Sixth Sense." Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/25 Full Review David F This movie about a sort of ghost debunker in post-WWI England starts off very strong with tons of atmosphere, a remote boarding school in a large country house, and a deepening mystery. The resolution can’t quite live up to all this scene setting, unfortunately, but it is a meritorious effort nonetheless. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/04/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Awakening

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Cast & Crew

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Nick Murphy

Director

Rebecca Hall

Florence Cathcart

Dominic West

Robert Mallory

Imelda Staunton

Maud Hill

Isaac Hempstead-Wright

Tom

Shaun Dooley

Malcolm McNair

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The Awakening

The Awakening (2011) The Awakening (2011) The Awakening (2011) The Awakening (2011) Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart in "The Awakening." Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart in "The Awakening." Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart in "The Awakening." Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart and Dominic West as Robert Mallory in "The Awakening." Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart in "The Awakening." Rebecca Hall as Florence Cathcart in "The Awakening." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In post-World War I England a writer and sometime-ghost hunter (Rebecca Hall) investigates a reported haunting at a boys boarding school.
Director
Nick Murphy
Screenwriter
Stephen Volk, Nick Murphy
Distributor
Cohen Media Group
Production Co
StudioCanal, BBC Films
Rating
R (Some Violence|Sexuality/Nudity)
Genre
Horror
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 17, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$90.3K
Runtime
1h 47m
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