Awakened is a 2013 supernatural horror film directed by Joycelyn Engle and Arno Malarone. The film follows the story of a young woman by the name Samantha Winston, who wakes up in a morgue with no memory of how she got there. As she tries to unravel the mystery of her death and resurrection, she discovers dark and terrifying truths about the supernatural forces at play.

Awakened
theatrical release poster
Directed byJoycelyn Engle
Arno Malarone
Written byJoycelyn Engle
Christopher M. Capwell
Story byJoycelyn Engle
Produced byJulianne Michelle
Joycelyn Engle
StarringJulianne Michelle
Steven Bauer
John Savage
Stelio Savante
Bryan Dechart
Sally Kirkland
Edward Furlong
Edited byRod Weber
Music byKenneth Lampl
Darren Tate
Distributed byITN Distribution
Supernova Media
Release dates
  • October 18, 2013 (2013-10-18) (LA Femme International Fil Festival)
  • March 21, 2014 (2014-03-21) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.1 million

Plot

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Samantha Winston (Julianne Michelle), a 22-year-old woman, returns to her home town after 14 years in search of answers to her mother's untimely death. She is convinced that her father, Jack Winston (John Savage), murdered her mother (Kiva Dawson). In a quest for vengeance, Samantha uncovers an evil and devastating truth.

Samantha tried to escape tragedy much of her life. After her young mother's sudden passing, when Samantha was only 8 yrs old, she went to live with her aunt in Minnesota. Within one year her world was shattered again when her aunt was killed in a car crash. Young Samantha was then sent to live with abusive foster families, and finally she ran off to live on her own at age 16.

Returning to her childhood home as a young adult conjures up loving memories of her life as a child. However, harsh reminders of her father's drunken rampages and the sudden death of her 32-year-old mother dominate her thoughts. She is convinced that her father, 20 years her mother's senior, a jealous and verbally abusive alcoholic, committed this unthinkable crime.

In the exhaustive search for evidence Samantha seeks answers from Lucas Drake (Steven Bauer), her mother's best friend and a successful funeral director and mortuary owner, and her Uncle Thomas (Edward Furlong), among others. As the deep dark secrets of evil plots and schemes in this town unfold, the mystery thickens.[1]

Cast

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Production

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Reception

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Accolades

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Award / Film festival Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
168 Film Festival, US (2013) Best Film (Best Narrated Feature) Joycelyn Engle Won [citation needed]
LA Femme Film Festival (2013) Best Feature Producer Joycelyn Engle and Julianne Michelle Won [citation needed]
LA Femme International Film Festival (2013) LA Femme Filmmaker Award Joycelyn Engle Won [citation needed]
NYC Independent Film Festival (2013) Best Feature Narrative Joycelyn Engle Won [2]
NYC Independent Film Festival (2013) Best Actress Julianne Michelle Won [3]

References

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  1. ^ "Awakened (2013/2014) - Movie - Supernova Media, Inc". Supernova Media, Inc. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  2. ^ "NYC Independent Film Festival (2013)". nycindieff.com. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  3. ^ "NYC Independent Film Festival (2013)". nycindieff.com. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
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