Reviews: A Nightmare Wakes (2020) Movie Review
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Our take on A Nightmare Wakes (2020) explores its plot, scares, and horror highlights to help fans decide if it deserves a place on their watchlist.
A Nightmare Wakes (2020) attempts to blend historical drama and psychological horror by reimagining the creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein as a descent into madness. The film follows Mary Shelley (Alix Wilton Regan) as she struggles with personal trauma, grief, and an unraveling mind while writing the novel that would change literature forever. While the premise is fascinating and the atmospheric visuals capture a gothic mood, the film fails to deliver gripping horror or deep emotional impact, ultimately succumbing to a slow pace and uninspired execution.
A Nightmare Wakes (2020) – A Gothic Horror That Lacks Haunting Power
Director and Main Cast
- Director: Nora Unkel
- Main Cast:
- Alix Wilton Regan as Mary Shelley
- Giullian Yao Gioiello as Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Claire Glassford as Claire Clairmont
- Philippe Bowgen as Lord Byron
The film centers on the tortured romance between Mary and Percy Shelley, as well as her struggles to balance creativity with mental turmoil. While Regan’s performance is solid, the characters lack depth, making their interactions feel flat and lifeless.
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
Plot Summary
As Mary Shelley begins writing Frankenstein, she becomes consumed by visions of her novel’s monstrous themes. Her relationship with Percy Shelley grows more volatile, as her hallucinations, grief, and isolation begin to merge fiction with reality. The film explores how Mary’s personal struggles fuel her creation, but the execution is uneven, making it feel more like a slow-burn period drama than a gripping psychological horror.
Themes Explored
- The Birth of Horror Through Personal Trauma – The film draws parallels between Mary’s grief, pain, and creativity, highlighting how her real-life struggles manifest in her writing.
- Madness and Isolation – As Mary loses touch with reality, the film explores how genius and insanity can intertwine.
- Feminine Oppression – The film touches on the limitations placed on women in the 19th century, particularly in literary circles, but doesn’t fully develop this theme.
Character Development
- Mary Shelley is the strongest aspect of the film, with Alix Wilton Regan delivering a committed performance. However, the script fails to make her psychological unraveling truly compelling.
- Percy Shelley is underdeveloped, with his toxic behavior feeling more like a plot device than a fully realized character arc.
- Lord Byron and Claire Clairmont serve as background figures, adding little depth to the narrative.
Acting and Cinematography
Performances
- Alix Wilton Regan carries the film, effectively portraying Mary’s internal struggles, even when the script fails to provide emotional depth.
- Giullian Yao Gioiello’s Percy lacks presence, making their romantic and dramatic conflicts feel unconvincing.
- The supporting cast is mostly forgettable, with flat dialogue and minimal character development.
Visuals and Direction
- The cinematography is the film’s greatest strength, using dim candlelight, eerie shadows, and misty landscapes to create a haunting period aesthetic.
- Muted color palettes and soft lighting add to the gothic atmosphere, but the film relies too much on style over substance.
- The horror elements are underwhelming, relying on hallucinations and surreal imagery that fail to be genuinely frightening.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Strengths:
- Visually atmospheric – The gothic cinematography and production design successfully evoke the early 19th-century setting.
- Interesting concept – A film about Mary Shelley’s real-life horror fueling Frankenstein is a unique premise.
- Regan’s performance – The lead actress delivers a committed, nuanced portrayal of Mary’s struggles.
Weaknesses:
- Slow and uneven pacing – The film drags, making its psychological horror elements feel repetitive and lifeless.
- Lack of real horror – The film leans on vague hallucinations instead of genuine fear or tension.
- Underdeveloped supporting characters – Percy Shelley and the rest of the cast feel one-dimensional, preventing the drama from feeling emotionally engaging.
- Missed potential – The film could have explored the complexity of Mary’s psyche more deeply, rather than just skimming the surface.
Final Verdict & Score: 4/10
In Conclusion – Is A Nightmare Wakes Worth Watching?
Despite its striking visuals and intriguing premise, A Nightmare Wakesfails to deliver a compelling psychological horror experience. It lacks suspense, strong character development, and emotional depth, making it a sluggish, uninspired attempt at blending gothic horror with historical drama.
While fans of period horror and slow-burn psychological thrillers may appreciate its visuals and concept, those looking for a gripping, unsettling horror film will likely be disappointed.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- A Nightmare Wakes Rating Scores
- Our Score: 4/10
- Overall Score: 4.39/10
- IMDB: 3.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 5.5/10
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