Watch The Awakening. A True Story

The Awakening is a 2011 British supernatural drama film that is based on a true story. Set in 1921 England, the film tells the story of Florence Cathcart, a published author and a skeptic who is dedicated to exposing fraudulent claims of the supernatural. Florence is hired by Robert Mallory, the headmaster of a boarding school, to investigate the recent death of a student who was believed to have been haunted by a malevolent ghost.

Florence arrives at the boarding school and immediately sets to work, interviewing the staff, the students, and the housekeeper Mrs. Mallory. Her investigation leads her to conclude that the haunting is a hoax, orchestrated by the school’s groundskeeper to scare the students and staff away.

However, as Florence spends more time at the school, she begins to experience strange occurrences that she cannot explain. She sees the ghostly figure of a boy walking through the halls and hears unexplainable noises coming from the walls. The more she investigates, the more she begins to believe that there may be some truth to the haunting.

Meanwhile, Florence develops a close relationship with Robert Mallory, sharing with him the tragic backstory of her own personal life. Her fiance was killed in the trenches of World War I, leaving her with a deep sense of loss and grief that she has been struggling to overcome.

The tension in the film builds as the haunting becomes more intense and the students become more frightened. Florence grows increasingly determined to uncover the truth behind the ghostly apparitions, even as she begins to question her own beliefs about the supernatural.

The Awakening is a beautifully filmed and atmospheric movie that plays with the audience’s expectations and blurs the line between reality and fantasy. The performances are strong, particularly Rebecca Hall as Florence, who brings a vulnerability and depth to her character. The film is also notable for its stunning cinematography, which captures the moody, Gothic atmosphere of the boarding school.

Throughout the film, director Nick Murphy keeps the audience guessing with cleverly placed red herrings and unexpected plot twists. The final act of the movie is particularly effective, delivering an emotional punch while tying together the various threads of the story.

Overall, The Awakening is a compelling and thought-provoking film that offers a unique take on the haunted house genre. It explores complex psychological themes, such as grief and denial, while keeping the audience engaged with its eerie atmosphere and engaging characters.