O Despertar

After watching this movie (pun intended) I was really surprised how much I enjoyed it. You have two strangers waking up in their hometown after being involved in a bus crash. They realize that there seems to be no one around and there's a strange sort of mist surrounding the town approaching them. It's a great and unique idea that really reminded me of the movie "Phantoms" from 1998 at first and I love these mysterious horror movies with great concepts and an apocalyptic feel to them. Also the movie introduces an aspect or should I say antagonist that I really enjoyed because it fits with the overall ambience and was introduced well with the story. The acting is fine, the sets look amazing, the pacing was a little bit sloppy at times but overall good too and the characters and the overall story were pretty convincing. While this movie has its flaws I think it's really underrated and I suggest you should give it a try. [6,2/10].

I freely admit, at first going in, I was more than a bit skeptical, but the key here is, you have to stick with it to really appreciate the concept, and the message.

Kudos to a well crafted story, even if it was produced with a very minimal budget. Sometimes, a good film doesn't need huge production extravaganza effects and big name stars to convey a concept that will stick with you, make you remember and perhaps think just a bit.

This is just such an example.

I won't even attempt to explain the story as it unfolds, as that would risk possible unintentional spoilers, so nary a clue here.

I'm not familiar with Jason Parish or Ryan Smith, but they deserve considerable credit for creating so much with so little, and really making it work.

Karolina Wydra's performance was maybe a bit overly expressive, but then again, she is something of a cartoon character come to life as it were, so perhaps that caricature is the perfect match for her part here. OK, that's just a clue . . .

Anyway, even if this is not your usual cup of tea, I'd say give it a watch, you're not likely to regret the time spent.

I feel like the ratings are giving this movie a bit of a beating, and unfairly so.

I appreciate that this is not a mind-blowing blockbuster, but - taken in context - it is just a beautiful dark-tale. Someone previously mentioned 'pace' issues, but I didn't actually find it a fault.

The two leads are strong and believable, even facing such a fantastical race to find a reason for what is happening. I think it is cleverly wrote to piece together the mystery.

A few other reviews have mentioned 'Silent Hill', but if you are anything like me and a big wimp when it comes to horror... please don't be put off as although a bit nail-biting at times, it is far from 'Horror'.

If you don't go in expecting it to change your life, then I would seriously recommend this film.

I wasn't expecting too much going in but this movie delivered. They took a classic storyline and kept it simple with good writing. The characters are well formed with decent dialogue that was a little spotty at times but generally not too bad.

It's not a big budget blockbuster so if you go in expecting something great then you'll probably be disappointed. For such a small budget though it definitely hits above its weight.

Overall a fun indie thriller.

I found After an easy watch, but then again, I love interesting sci fi and horror, particularly if there's a good monster. The monster in this was ace, fast and roaring, but admittedly you don't get to see too much of it, in fact, there's only one really decent close up scene, but it is at least a good look. That's better than many other monster movies. The two leads were easy on the eye and acted well, and the story was different at least, if not ground breaking. Overall the movie was put together well, with a few decent effects, good editing and pace, and tension.