Dead Awake (2001)

Desmond Caine suffers from insomnia and spends his nights walking the streets. One night, he witnesses a murder, generating a strange chain of events in his life.

Director:

Marc S. Grenier

Writer:

Terry Abrahamson

Stars:

Stephen Baldwin, Macha Grenon, Michael Ironside

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Baldwin	...	Desmond Caine
Macha Grenon	...	W.D.
Michael Ironside	...	Skay
Edward Yankie	...	Det. Gary Belladonna
Janet Kidder	...	Kimberly 'Kick' Birmingham
Maxim Roy	...	Chaney Streeter
Claudia Ferri	...	Lena Savage
Karen Elkin	...	Alma Blasquez
Frank Schorpion	...	McCoy Wright
Conrad Pla	...	Veronica
Daniel Brochu	...	Pit Bull Owner
Gillian Ferrabee	...	Gloria Magik
Lorne Brass	...	Udo Magik
Michelle Lipper	...	Vicki
Donovan Reiter	...	Horace Ramirez

Storyline

An insomniac wanders the streets at night and ends up at a local deli where life's losers appear to end up, including a nice, although slightly lost young woman and a slightly deranged, apparently homeless man, and a untalkative, dysfunctional cop hangout. On one of the late night forays, the insomniac witnesses a murder. When he tries to report, there is no sign of the murder, but the cops become convinced he is the killer. But wait, that is not the weird part. It seems that the insomniac has a girl friend, who doesn't have a clue that he gets up at night and wanders the city, and a personal assistant, who knows all about his exploits. But it only gets weirder from there as the cops uncover that the murdered man is connected to the man's girl friend.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | insomnia | pit bull dog | wheelchair | dog | 

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Taglines:

Sleepwalking in a nightmare

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and violence

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dead awake. Insomnio

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Locomotion Films, Nu Image Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

At the end of the movie, when Desmond is talking to UDO, the door of the red Mercedes is closed. When the shot expands to a wide view for a brief moment before scene change, the door is open.

User Reviews

NIce surprise

This is a great little film. Droll. A twisted tale that doesn't descend into camp or clichés.

The music and set design/locations are excellent, the actors are all well cast and it's great to see so many unknowns... casting of 'names' in the support roles would've ruined this film. It's well weighted and well balanced. It's a kind of noirish art film, without the pretentiousness of most 'art' films. There's a fine quality of levity to this film, the ball is kept in the air. Loved some of the set decorations and characterisations, the music is great too. I had to give it a 10 because it's been so unfairly underscored. I think it's an 8 really.

Probably everything 'Memento' hoped and failed to be.