Product Details

• Actors: Charlton Heston, Susannah York, Jill Townsend, Stephanie Zimbalist
• Directors: Mike Newell
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Warner Archive
• DVD Release Date: June 7, 2012
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0082G8SLC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,625 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Mention Bram Stoker's name, and literature and movie buffs will conjure up Count Dracula. But there was more blood in Stoker's pen. He also wrote The Jewel of the Seven Stars, later filmed with chilling effect as The Awakening, grippingly directed by Mike Newell (Dance with a Stranger, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and sensuously shot on Egyptian locations by veteran cinematographer Jack Cardiff. Charlton Heston stars as an Egyptologist with a passion that will trigger several mysterious deaths. He's obsessed with a sorceress whose return has been prophesied - and whose tomb he opened at the exact moment his daughter was born. Can ancient evil reach forward in time to curse the present? Horror movie fans know the terrifying answer.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Egyptian Identity Crisis June 13, 2002

By Bruce Rux

Format:VHS Tape

Egyptologist Charlton Heston has had a string of bad luck, ever since unearthing evil old Egyptian sorceress queen Tara. His wife died in childbirth, and numerous colleagues associated with the find suffered dreadful accidents. Still, the find made him famous.

Eighteen years later, his daughter Stephanie Zimbalist (in her first film role) is coming into her own, and wanting to travel with dad to Egypt and get to know him better - she's often been away, while Heston was making time with his new wife and former assistant, Susannah York, and conducting his lecture tours. Stephanie's a sweet kid, even if she is suddenly developing problems. Seems she doesn't always know where she's been at night - or what she was doing. In fact, she isn't even sure who she is, anymore, half the time.

Heston is equally afraid he is losing his own appreciable mind. He's coming to recognize that he is the fulfillment of Queen Tara's prophecy for her own resurrection in a later age. As before, those near and dear to him are dying, paving his way to become Tara's new prophet, and Heston is beginning to think the ancient Egyptian magic has more going for it than any of his own modern science. The problem is, it appears his daughter may have to die to fulfill the prophecy...

This movie was one whole star better, before the releasing studio completely reshot its ending. What was a clever conclusion became instead more heavy-handed and far less satisfying, and even somewhat comical. It also occasionally suffers from a bit of heavy-handedness in direction, inadvertently turning some melodramatic moments into humorous ones.

However, the production itself is superior. Maurice Binder did the stylish opening credit sequence. Robert H. Solo produced, almost contemporaneously with his excellent version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The excellent Claude Bolling score is eerie and romantic, and sometimes reminiscent of The Omen, as is the manner in which the numerous ugly accidental deaths occur. The performances are generally quite good, especially Zimbalist, who is fresh and charming. The cinematography and location shooting are breathtakingly beautiful.

This second filming of Bram Stoker's The Jewel of the Seven Stars is overall more commendable than not, especially for fans of horror films - The Omen especially, which the movie in many ways resembles - or of Egyptian settings and trappings.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic November 7, 2005

By Ben T.

Format:VHS Tape

"The Awakening" isn't a summer blockbuster; it was never meant to be. This is a story about an archaeologist trying to break ground despite being the 17 millionth person studying ancient Egypt. He is a believer and his passion consumes him. He is also not a perfect man. He is a man of science who's work defines his whole being. This is why I think the audience may have a hard time warming up to him.
I don't like to give details in my reviews. What this story has to offer is a realistic horror film. Even though there are virtually no special effects, we are still drawn in to a world of silent malevolence.
This is not a "slasher" film. There is much weight given to suspicious happenings and ancient curses that frankly, makes this story much more creepy. There is virtually nothing offered in the movie that I couldn't see actually happening. Not that I believe in curses, but you never know, there are things in the universe that you don't want to piss off. Leave them alone, you may live longer.
Some have said that is story is "slow". Yes. It is a drama. It's trying to weave a tale for you that is intelligent, thoughtful and if you're willing sit and be invested in the story, it may scare you more than Freddy Kruger ever could.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awake and Watching November 4, 2000

By Susan Waszak

Format:VHS Tape

The spirit of a dead, evil Egyptian queen reincarnates as the daughter of an archeologist. "The Awakening" is a tantilizing thrill ride complete with incest, betrayal, and murder. A young Stephanie Zimbalist gives an eerie performance as the young innocent daughter who tries to combat the demon within her.