‘Woken’ Review – Dystopian Memory Thriller Is Wonderfully Sick

Imagine waking up with no memory of anything. No memory of your life, your marriage, or the fact that you are pregnant. This is the situation Anna (Erin Kellyman) finds herself in when she awakens on the confines of a secluded island in the North Sea. From the onset, we know there is a plot afoot, and we lock in for a race against time as Anna tries to reclaim her memories.

Woken is a mystery from the onset. We find Anna running to a cliff above a roaring ocean. Adrenaline is pumping and tension is spiking, when suddenly it all goes black—a result of Anna’s fall. When she rallies, she knows nothing of herself or the world around her. Her husband James (Ivanno Jeremiah) is a mystery to her, as are her caretakers Helen (Maxine Peake) and Peter (Corrado Invernizzi). Her situation is precarious as she tries to make sense of the world around her and her seeming entrapment on the island. To complicate matters, she slowly discovers she is living in the middle of a worldwide pandemic that threatens to wipe out the human race.

Part of what makes Woken a gripping thriller is that it unfolds as a mystery, keeping us guessing. The story unfolds through fragments, much like a dystopian version of Memento. What starts as a simple case of forgotten identity and missing events becomes an apocalyptic exploit on the end of days. This worldwide virus ravaging humanity is a pure nightmare fuel, but it is only part of the story. Adding to the nightmare is the fact that her husband and caregivers kept the information from her.

Anna’s discovery of the pandemic is horrific. Gas masks and hazmat suits become the norm when two wash-ashore arrive on the island. Even in the exaggerated flair, these elements are notoriously gripping, given our post-pandemic world. When there is the possibility of Anna being infected, the tension is palpable. Ultimately, this is the equivalent of a frog in a pot, not realizing the water is boiling and slowly cooking it to death. In this case, Anna is the unwitting frog, making the situation that much more harrowing.

The film presents us with a claustrophobic atmosphere, personally triggering memories of the pandemic’s isolation and viral concerns. Here, the movie takes a larger swing by taking a dystopian switch, and while over-the-top, the film never forsakes personal stakes. These elements leave us in terror.

Supporting Anna are the players on the island. Maxine Peake presents a quiet unease that is masked by a warm smile and nurturing nature. Jeremiah and Invernizzi range from subdued to on edge. There is a sense that the three are secret-keepers, hiding more than Anna’s past amid the global upheaval. Their moments are intense individually, and so is the gut punch of their secret.

Woken delivers an assault from the first frame that continues at a breakneck pace and leaves little room for us to catch our breath. The twisted mystery, intricate as it is, is the underlying theme of trust. Who is Anna to trust? Her supposed husband? Her caregivers? The doctor who checks in on her? Ultimately, this becomes a story of self-reliance and survival that still manages to shock us with oozing imagery and billowing darkness.

While the runtime is short, the movie’s abbreviated pace does not skimp on detail or sacrifice story. Dark and unwavering, this is a film that manages to lock in and grab hold of the audience’s psyche. The mind-bending theatrics, coupled with the sweeping cinematography, make this a memorable thriller, sure to please horror fans en masse. The ultimate twist is a one-two punch that leaves us wide-eyed and mouth agape. 

Woken is currently available on digital platforms courtesy of Dark Sky Films.