Awake (2019) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Matilda can still sleep because she briefly experienced death when she nearly drowned in the lake car crash. The same applies to her brother Noah. The research at The Hub eventually reveals that the solar flare disrupted brain functions in a way that only those who have experienced death regain the ability to sleep.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Noah claims to see shooting stars, which are actually satellites affected by the widespread electrical failure.

• matilda
• sleep
• ability
• death
• solar flare
• near-drowning

The Hub is a military research facility where scientists study a solitary old woman who is the only person still capable of sleeping. The military hopes to use her to develop a cure for the global insomnia epidemic affecting the entire population.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Murphy mentions this woman early on, describing her as the only exception to the sleepless phenomenon.

• the hub
• military base
• research
• woman
• sleep
• cure

The military wants Matilda because she represents a rare subject who can still sleep after the solar flare affected everyone. They plan to study her to understand how to restore sleep to the billions of people suffering from the global insomnia crisis, though this means potentially using her as an experimental subject.

Foreshadowing: The pastor at the church preaches about Matilda being a beacon of hope, drawing unwanted attention from authorities.

• matilda
• military
• capture
• experiments
• study
• sleep

The global sleeplessness was caused by a solar flare that disrupted brain functions across the entire population. This solar flare affected everyone's neurological ability to fall asleep, creating a worldwide crisis with devastating consequences.

Foreshadowing: The initial widespread electrical failure that causes car crashes and chaos hints at a larger atmospheric phenomenon.

• solar flare
• cause
• sleep
• global
• brain
• electricity

Noah becomes trapped in a deadly hallucination caused by severe sleep deprivation while at The Hub. As Jill and Matilda attempt to escape, they try to revive him, but he ultimately dies. The shocking revelation is that he briefly experienced death earlier (the near-drowning), which is what allowed him to sleep.

Foreshadowing: Noah's claim of seeing shooting stars early on signals his unique condition compared to other adults.

• noah
• death
• hallucination
• sleep deprivation
• ending
• children

Matilda drowns Jill as part of a desperate attempt to give her the same ability to sleep that the children have. Since the ability to sleep comes from having briefly experienced death, Matilda and Noah drown Jill to trigger this state in her, then resuscitate her. This echoes how Matilda was revived after nearly drowning in the lake at the beginning.

Foreshadowing: The film bookends with water rescue - Matilda was saved by a police officer after nearly drowning, which gave her the ability to sleep.

• jill
• matilda
• drown
• death
• resuscitate
• sleep
• ending
• eye

Only children can sleep after the solar flare because they briefly experienced death - specifically Matilda and Noah from their near-drowning incident. The research at The Hub reveals that this brush with death is what allows certain individuals to still sleep, as the solar flare affected brain functions in this specific way.

Foreshadowing: The initial car crash into the lake, where Matilda nearly drowns, is the key event that sets this ability in motion.

• children
• sleep
• death
• solar flare
• ability
• matilda
• noah

The research at The Hub involves developing drugs that mask the symptoms of sleeplessness but cause horrific neurological damage. Jill discovers that the woman capable of sleeping is in a dire state, and the so-called cure offers little hope - it's essentially poison that prolongs life while destroying the brain.

Foreshadowing: Dr. Murphy mentions the research early, but its true nature only becomes clear when Jill infiltrates the facility.

• research
• hub
• drug
• cure
• neurological damage
• experiments

The pastor is preaching about Matilda as a beacon of hope because she's one of the few people who can still sleep in a world consumed by perpetual wakefulness. This attracts a crowd and puts Matilda in danger, as the authorities soon arrive looking for her.

Foreshadowing: This moment connects directly to the military's interest in capturing Matilda for study.

• pastor
• church
• matilda
• hope
• beacon
• crowd

Dodge is an escaped prisoner who initially steals Jill's car and takes Matilda with him by accident. However, he redeems himself by rescuing Jill and Noah from other dangerous inmates. He accompanies them to The Hub, though Jill eventually sends him away for his safety before infiltrating the facility.

Foreshadowing: Dodge's initial theft creates conflict, but his later rescue establishes his change of heart.

• dodge
• prisoner
• escape
• help
• car
• matilda

The car crashes into the lake because of the widespread electrical failure caused by the solar flare. The vehicle loses power unexpectedly, and then it's struck by another car, sending it into the water. This incident nearly kills Matilda and ultimately gives her and Noah the ability to sleep.

Foreshadowing: The electrical failure is affecting all technology in town, including cars and hospital equipment.

• car
• crash
• lake
• electrical failure
• power
• matilda
• noah

Jill teaches Matilda to drive as a desperate survival measure in case something happens to her. With dangerous individuals pursuing them and the journey to The Hub being perilous, Jill wants Matilda to be able to fend for herself and escape if necessary.

Foreshadowing: This foreshadows the children's independence at the end when they must act without Jill.

• matilda
• driving
• teach
• survival
• jill
• skills
• escape