Dead Awake (2010)

A funeral parlor employee looks to unravel a 10-year-old mystery.

Director:

Omar Naim

Writers:

Johnny Harrington (story), Johnny Harrington,

Stars:

Nick Stahl, Rose McGowan, Amy Smart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Stahl	...	Dylan
Rose McGowan	...	Charlie
Amy Smart	...	Natalie
Ben Marten	...	Steve
Brian Lynner	...	Decko
Kim Grimaldi	...	Liz
James Serpento	...	Detective Milano
Jack Mishler	...	Mr. Brennan
Justin Marxen	...	Jack
Shane Simmons	...	David
Rachel Storey	...	Tracy
Britt Slater	...	Megan (as Brittany Slater)
Paul Nycz	...	The Tattooed Man
Justin Urich	...	Mad Terrence
Andrea Leon	...	Camilla

Storyline

Dylan, a young man working at a funeral parlor, is trying to unravel a mystery that shattered his life ten years earlier. After faking his own funeral to see who will show up, he befriends a mysterious street junkie and is reunited with an old love from his past. The lives of these three characters are transformed by supernatural forces as Dylan discovers that no one is who they seem to be.

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Plot Keywords:

funeral | punctuation in title | purgatory | drug use | apostrophe in title | 

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Genres:

Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, drug content and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dylan's Wake

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tax Credit Finance

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Wake Me"
Performed by Rose McGowan

User Reviews

Very Good Thriller/Fantasy

After seeing the low scores on this film, I was encouraged to write a review as this film is worthy of a Seven, not the Four or lower most viewers have given it. The film has an excellent cast including Nick Stahl (Of Terminator Fame), Rose McGowan, and Amy Smart (both extremely under-rated actresses who can do comedy, drama, horror, thrillers, you name it and extremely attractive without being model gorgeous at the same time) as well as two lesser known actors playing the Irish "parent substitutes" for Nick Stahl's character, Dylan.

The film is basically a thriller that leaves you guessing as to Dylan's fate. Is he alive or dead? Is he talking to ghosts? This has been compared by other reviewers to "Sixth Sense" and I would agree. In essence, Dylan still hasn't come to terms with the death of his parents and assisting a crack addict, Charlie (Rose McGowan) finds redemption as does she. Meanwhile, with Charlies guidance, he rediscovers his old high school sweetheart, Natalie (Amy Smart), and is able to rekindle a romance that should never have ended.

So what does this film offer? It keeps you guessing as an excellent thriller should; the presence of the ?undead? and the fact Dylan works in a funeral home lend an element of fantasy, mystery, and eeriness; the rekindled relationship and flashbacks with Natalie provide romance; and most of all, all of the three main characters achieve some form of redemption. Seven Stars, would recommend to anyone and would watch again.