Written and directed by Alan Friel, a woman who wakes up from an accident with no memory of who she is, and the realisation that the human race is close to extinction. Starring: Erin Kellyman, Maxine Peake, Peter McDonald, Ivanno Jeremiah, Oscar Coleman and Corrado Invernizzi.
Memory loss, isolation, mystery and secrets are quintessential elements of sci-fi and thriller cinema, and when they’re used right, it’s incredibly enjoyable but Woken is unfortunately not a good example. The opening feels clunky and it never truly finds its footing. It falls into the classic mistake of spending too long keeping your viewers guessing then not providing them with a satisfying enough revelation to justify all the waiting.
It moves slowly, the cinematography is slightly dull and there’s a huge note of naivety to its atmosphere. Part of that is the performance from Erin Kellyman as Anna, which feels a little forced and quite transparent, she doesn’t give viewers a strong guide to this story. Anna is a little meek and soppy, she’s not really the underdog protagonist they’re trying hard to create. It’s a shame as having Maxine Peaketo create such genuine tension and suspicion to play off of was an excellent opportunity, but it feels like her talent is slightly wasted here. Ivanno Jeremiah also deserves a mention as he creates this slightly creepy edge which is genuinely effective and something Wokencould have truly benefited from instilling further into the film.
Another part of the issue of Woken struggling to build tangible personality and intrigue is the contrast between its ultimate goals and the atmosphere and environment it creates for the majority of the film, they clash entirely. That clash then makes the sci-fi touches feel insincere and artificial. Spending so much time building something mundane and humble, to then try and completely switch up the visual and dynamic, without incorporating a real sinister, dark edge to back it up, it falls flat. Although, the effects work is decently done, which deserves credit.
Woken unfortunately, like many others that have come before it, spends too much time setting the scene and doesn’t provide the audience with a satisfying enough pay off to justify their patience. It’s too much of a slow burn and sadly, isn’t led by a strong enough personality to give you enough to invest in. The visual lacks colour and sharpness, and the atmosphere never manages to reach the devious, dastardly heights that the film calls out for. It feels like this aesthetic would have been more fitting for a quiet, war-time psychological thriller instead.
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