Awake (2007)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211933/
Written & directed by: Joby Harold
Runtime: 84min
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Lena Olin
Genre: Thriller
Tagline: Every year, one in 700 people wake up during surgery. They never thought he'd be the one.

You’re about to watch an exciting medical thriller if you choose “Awake”. The focus of the movie is laid upon a condition called “anesthetic awareness” which is a dangerous condition in which patients before surgery and under anesthesia remain paralyzed but still aware of their present situation. Clay Beresford finds himself aware and awake during his heart surgery and he’s about to face some terrifying truths about two persons who deceived him.

In the beginning of the movie a beautiful relationship unfolds between Clay and Sam; it’s amazing how Sam is taking care of him and she really seems to love him sincerely. Also she is absolutely gorgeous (as gorgeous as only Jessica Alba can be). Clay has an overbearing mother, whose love proves to be useful, even if we don’t sympathize with her in the beginning because she disapproves of Clay’s relationship with Sam. Clay needs a heart transplant. Now there’s the question, would you let your friend operate on you, or the most experienced surgeon in the domain? Who would you trust yourself to? Clay chooses his friend, Jack. I had a hard time believing that being conscious during an operation is possible. Clay finds refugee in the memories of Sam to distract himself from the pain of the surgery. The medical things all look so real. Things get complicated and sooner or later shocking; some things aren’t what they seemed to be in the beginning. Clay also has an out of body experience, which seemed a bit too much, but was essential for the movie, essential for Clay to learn the truth.

The movie kept me awake and anxious about the outcome. The story of Clay’s out of the ordinary surgery was touching. I also found the idea an original one; an interesting approach to a medical condition of which I wasn’t even aware it existed. It made me think.