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Woken

Woken is a 2024 Irish-Italian dystopian written and directed by Alan Friel in his feature directorial debut. The film stars as Anna, a pregnant woman who awakens on a remote with complete following an accident, surrounded by individuals claiming to be her friends and husband. As she pieces together her identity and relationships, Anna discovers a world ravaged by a deadly that has brought humanity to the brink of extinction. The supporting cast includes as Helen, as James, and Corrado Invernizzi as Luca, with additional performances by Peter McDonald and Oscar Coleman. An co-production of Fantastic Films and Propaganda Italia, Woken runs for 91 minutes and explores themes of , , and in a post-apocalyptic setting. It premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival in March 2024, had a theatrical release in on July 4, 2024, before receiving a in the United States on July 18, 2025, followed by availability on digital platforms. Critically, Woken has garnered mixed reception, praised for its tense atmosphere and Kellyman's performance while critiqued for pacing and familiar tropes in the genre. With an rating of 5.3/10 based on 453 user reviews as of November 2025, the film has been highlighted by icon for its originality and acting.

Plot and Themes

Plot Summary

Woken follows Anna, a young woman who awakens on a remote island in the North Sea with complete amnesia following a traumatic accident. She soon discovers she is heavily pregnant and is being cared for by three individuals—Helen and Peter, who claim to be her friends and neighbors, and her husband James—all of whom she fails to recognize. Isolated from the mainland, Anna is being nursed back to health while grappling with her disorientation and forced to relearn aspects of her identity and surroundings. As slowly regains fragments of her memory, subtle hints emerge about a devastating global that has pushed humanity to the brink of , with the serving as a supposed sanctuary. Her interactions with , , and James grow increasingly tense, fostering suspicion about their true intentions and the veracity of her past relationships. This central conflict drives Anna's urgent quest to uncover her identity and piece together the fractured reality around her, amid mounting dread about the world beyond the island's shores.

Key Themes

In Woken, serves as a powerful for both personal disorientation and the broader inflicted by a global catastrophe, as the awakens with no recollection of her identity, marriage, or amid a that has decimated . This loss underscores the fragility of and society in the face of existential threats, where fragmented recollections—reconstructed through photo albums and home videos—highlight the irretrievable losses endured by survivors. The film's island setting amplifies themes of and eroded , portraying the remote, barren landscape as a microcosm of pandemic-induced that severs individuals from the outside world and fosters in interpersonal dynamics. Anna's strained relationships with her supposed caregivers, and , and her husband James, evolve from apparent benevolence to suspicion, reflecting the breakdown of social bonds when survival hinges on uncertain alliances during widespread . Central to the narrative is a commentary on and , where the looming annihilation of the species—caused by a infecting three-quarters of the global population—forces characters into desperate acts of preservation, including ethical quandaries surrounding as a means of continuity. Anna's becomes a symbol of and burden, compelling her to navigate moral dilemmas about safeguarding new life in a post-apocalyptic rife with protocols and the risk of , ultimately emphasizing over communal dependence. The thriller's horror elements critique dependency and deception within caregiving structures, as the initial nurturing facade of Anna's hosts unravels to reveal coercive control, mirroring real-world vulnerabilities in isolated support systems during crises. This dynamic heightens the film's tension, using sinister everyday motifs—like yellow baby jackets—to evoke unease about hidden agendas in relationships built on necessity rather than authenticity.

Development

Script and Announcement

The screenplay for Woken was written by Irish filmmaker Alan Friel as his feature-length directorial debut, following his work on the 2017 Cake. Friel developed the script as a sci-fi , centering on early elements such as a protagonist awakening with and confronting the imminent of through a mysterious experiment. These core narrative components were refined during the development phase, incorporating input from producers at Fantastic Films. In November 2020, Bankside Films announced its acquisition of worldwide sales rights to Woken, positioning the project for international distribution. The announcement specified plans for principal photography to commence in Ireland the following year, produced by Fantastic Films' , , and Deirdre Levins. Initial funding commitments included development support from Fís Éireann / , enabling the project's progression toward production. The acquisition outlined an international sales strategy, with Bankside Films set to pitch Woken to buyers at the later that month, aiming to secure global theatrical and streaming deals. At the time of the announcement, key cast attachments included and in lead roles.

Pre-production and Financing

Pre-production on Woken began following Bankside Films' acquisition of international sales rights in November 2020, with the project having been developed with initial support from . The script, centered on a post-apocalyptic premise, served as the foundation for pitching to potential financiers and partners. was scheduled to commence in 2021 but ultimately started in April 2022 on Ireland's west coast, allowing time for extensive location scouting in areas like , Clare, and Fanore Beach to capture the remote island setting. calls were conducted during this period; although had been initially attached as a lead, replaced her, with leads and attached by early 2022. Financing was secured primarily through Fís Éireann/, which provided development and production funding in association with Head Gear Films, alongside contributions from producers Fantastic Films and co-producer Propaganda Italia. Additional support came from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, , and the Italian Ministry of Culture. Rocliffe Productions joined as a co-producer to support the logistical buildup, while Bankside Films handled global distribution strategy from the outset. Key executive producers included Niamh Fagan for , and Phil Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear Films, whose involvement helped bridge financial backers and creative oversight. This partnership structure ensured the project's viability, culminating in a five-week shoot that wrapped in May 2022.

Cast and Crew

Principal Cast

The principal cast of Woken features in the lead role of Anna, a pregnant woman who awakens from an accident with , navigating a world of suspicion and isolation as she uncovers threats to her identity and safety. Kellyman, known for her breakout performance as Enfys Nest in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), brings a vulnerable yet resourceful intensity to Anna, emphasizing the character's disorientation and growing paranoia in a post-apocalyptic setting. Maxine Peake portrays Helen, the enigmatic caregiver who nurses Anna back to health on a remote , her outwardly sympathetic demeanor masking hidden motives tied to the unfolding crisis. Peake, acclaimed for her dramatic range in roles across television and film such as (2013–2014), delivers a performance that subtly conveys underlying tension and ambiguity, enhancing Helen's role as a pivotal figure in Anna's fractured reality. Ivanno Jeremiah plays James, Anna's husband who offers emotional support amid the mounting distrust, though his familiarity only heightens her confusion in the face of withheld truths about a global . Jeremiah's portrayal underscores James's conflicted loyalty, providing a grounded to the film's escalating thriller elements. In a key supporting role, Corrado Invernizzi appears as , Helen's partner and another caretaker whose antagonistic undertones connect to the story's extinction plot, revealing layers of through his increasingly on-edge . Peter McDonald portrays Doctor Henry, a figure involved in the island's medical and survival efforts. Oscar Coleman plays Joshua, adding to the group's dynamics in the isolated setting. The casting was announced on April 8, 2022, spotlighting Kellyman's rising profile in genre projects and Peake's versatility in intense character-driven narratives, which aligned with the 's psychological thriller demands.

Production Crew

Alan Friel directed Woken, marking his debut after a career in short films and commercials. Friel co-wrote the screenplay with Rebecca Pollock and served as a producer, overseeing the film's tone and post-apocalyptic vision centered on and loss. The production was led by , , and Deirdre Levins for the Irish company Fantastic Films, with co-production from Marina Marzotto and Mattia Oddone's Propaganda Italia. Executive producers included Stephen Kelliher and Sophie Green for Films, alongside Hunt and Compton Ross for Head Gear Films, and Niamh Fagan for . Simone Gandolfo acted as , managing on-set logistics during the Ireland-based shoot, while Farah Abushwesha contributed as co-producer. Richard Kendrick served as cinematographer, capturing the film's remote island setting with a focus on atmospheric tension and natural lighting to enhance the sense of dread. Breege Rowley handled editing, shaping the narrative's disorienting structure around the protagonist's . The original score was composed by Ratchev & Carratello, creating an atmospheric soundscape that underscores the and apocalyptic undertones through subtle, eerie motifs. Steve Oakes designed the production, constructing the isolated island aesthetics with weathered, makeshift environments to reflect the survivors' fragile existence.

Filming and Post-production

Principal Photography

Principal photography for Woken commenced in April 2022 and spanned five weeks, primarily in and West Clare, . The production team selected remote coastal and inland sites in West Clare, including Fanore Beach and the stark landscapes of , to convey the film's themes of isolation and desolation on a fictional remote island. Interior sequences were captured on the campus of the , including a derelict house repurposed to represent the protagonist's home. Director Alan Friel encountered logistical hurdles early in the shoot due to protocols, requiring him to isolate and direct the initial three days remotely from his car with assistance from first Drew Maitland. planning streamlined location access and permissions through collaboration with Film in , enabling a focused execution of the outdoor and interior setups. Filming concluded on May 31, 2022, with Friel confirming at wrap that the production had successfully captured all necessary footage, underscoring the streamlined operations of this independent feature backed by .

Visual Effects and Editing

The visual effects for Woken were supervised by Giuseppe Squillaci, who oversaw digital enhancements to support the film's dystopian narrative, including subtle integrations for memory sequences and apocalyptic settings. Prosthetics and make-up, contributing to the elements, were managed by Chiara Bartoli. Given the production's modest scale, the VFX work was executed by a compact team, focusing on atmospheric depth rather than elaborate spectacle to evoke a sense of elemental and impending . Editing duties were primarily handled by Breege Rowley, with support from Chris Gill—known for his work on —and Manuel Grieco, founder of post-production house Jumping Flea. The process prioritized psychological tension, employing precise cuts to layer revelations and maintain around the protagonist's and discoveries, ensuring a taut 91-minute that mirrors the story's disorienting pace. Sound design, led by Stefano Di Fiore, played a crucial role in amplifying the film's themes of and , with layered audio cues and environmental effects underscoring the remote setting and undertones. The score was integrated during to heighten emotional reveals, while Valerio Brini managed the final sound mix. Direct sound recording on location was captured by Dean Murray. All audio and video took place in , commencing in June 2022 after wrapped on Ireland's west coast in May. The phase extended through 2023 into early , culminating in preparations for festival screenings, including at the on March 3, 2024.

Release

Festival Premieres

The world premiere of Woken took place at the on October 15, 2023. The film had its European premiere at the Trieste Festival on October 29, 2023. It was screened at the International Film Festival on March 1, 2024, where it received positive early feedback for its atmospheric tension and genre-blending narrative. Subsequent screenings occurred at the Film Festival in March 2024, marking its UK premiere and emphasizing the film's Irish indie horror elements through focused programming on emerging genre voices. The film continued its festival circuit with additional appearances in 2023 and 2024, generating international interest ahead of its wider release and attracting attention from distributors seeking innovative sci-fi projects. Director Alan Friel participated in Q&A sessions at these festivals, where he discussed the inspirations behind his feature debut.

Commercial Distribution

Woken began its commercial rollout with an early European release in Italy on July 4, 2024, distributed theatrically by Blue Swan Entertainment, which served as the film's initial entry into international markets. This release preceded wider global availability and highlighted the film's appeal in genre-focused territories. In the United States, the film received a in select cinemas alongside a on (VOD) debut on July 18, 2025, handled by Dark Sky Films, an independent production and distribution label specializing in genre content. This dual-platform strategy allowed for broader accessibility shortly after its screenings, leveraging momentum from earlier premieres to build audience interest. International sales and further distribution were managed by Bankside Films, facilitating home media availability on platforms such as , where pre-orders were promoted ahead of the U.S. launch. Marketing efforts included official trailers that underscored the film's post-apocalyptic thriller elements, such as , , and , released through channels like and genre sites in the lead-up to the U.S. rollout. Additionally, horror icon publicly endorsed the film on , praising its originality, surprises, and acting in a post dated July 29, 2025, which amplified visibility among fans of the genre.

Reception

Critical Response

Woken received mixed-to-positive , praised for its atmospheric tension and performances while critiqued for pacing issues and familiar elements. On , the film holds an average rating of 5.3 out of 10 based on 453 user votes as of November 2025, reflecting a divide among viewers on its execution. Similarly, aggregates an average of 3.1 out of 5 from 422 ratings as of November 2025, with reviewers noting its engaging setup but uneven delivery. Critics highlighted Erin Kellyman's vulnerable portrayal of the amnesiac protagonist , describing her as resourceful and engaging in a role that anchors 's suspense. Director Alan Friel's tense direction was commended for sustaining a sinister atmosphere through subtle use of everyday objects and isolated locations, creating an immersive sense of unease. The Hollywood News awarded 4 out of 5 stars, calling it an "affecting and immersive story" that thrills and unsettles effectively. However, several reviews pointed to criticisms of the pacing, particularly in the early acts where the slow build felt plodding before tension ramps up. The film's twists were often described as predictable, with the third act relying on conventional tropes like expository dialogue and formulaic revelations that dilute the initial intrigue. The film's indie visibility received a notable boost from horror icon , who endorsed it on as featuring "surprises, new faces and terrific acting" and being "so original," helping to draw attention to this under-the-radar production. Reviewers occasionally referenced its thematic exploration of and , adding contemporary resonance to the narrative.

Audience and Commercial Performance

User reviews on platforms like and have highlighted the film's effective tension buildup and surprising twists, fostering a sense of cult appeal among viewers who found it "thoroughly interesting" even amid slower pacing in the early acts. On , Woken maintains a 5.3 out of 10 rating based on 453 user votes as of November 2025, reflecting appreciation for its atmospheric suspense and genre-blending elements. Similarly, users rate it 3.1 out of 5 from 422 logs as of November 2025, with many commending the anxious immersion and narrative revelations that reward patient audiences. The film's limited theatrical rollout in select venues resulted in modest earnings, grossing under $1 million worldwide according to estimates from The Numbers as of 2025, a performance consistent with many sci-fi releases constrained by scale. This outcome underscores the challenges faced by productions in competing for wide audiences during the summer 2025 season. Positive endorsements from critics played a role in drawing initial viewers to these screenings. Post-theatrical, Woken demonstrated robust digital streaming success following its July 18, 2025, VOD debut, propelled by horror community recommendations on and platforms like . Availability on major services amplified its reach, contributing to sustained engagement through online discussions and trailer shares that generated buzz among genre fans. Long-term indicators include ongoing viewership metrics on and traction, supported by over 450 IMDb ratings that signal enduring interest.

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