Director: Jaime Osorio Márquez, Federico Durán and José Luis Rugeles
Cast: Claudio Cataño, Alejandro Buitrago, Héctor Sánchez, Andrea Olaya, Quique Sanmartín, Jaisson Jeack, Carlos Mariño, Andrés Londoño, Salvador Bridges and Ricardo Leguizamo
Genre: Action, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller
Distributor: Well Go USA Entertainment
Digital Release: November 10, 2026
Blu-ray and DVD Release: December 15, 2026 (exclusively through Amazon)
The Awakening
- Director: Jaime Osorio Márquez
- Starring: Claudio Cataño, Alejandro Buitrago, Hector Sánchez, Andrea Olaya, Quique Sanmartin, Jaisson Jeack, Carlos Mariño, Andres Londono
- Genre: Horror, Action, War, Fantasy, Thriller
- Runtime: 96 mins
- User Rating: ★ 6.8
Review
THE AWAKENING follows an elite military unit on a mission in the Colombian jungle that quickly descends into a nightmare. When the soldiers encounter a deadly supernatural force tied to an ancient presence, their operation turns into a desperate fight for survival against an enemy that has been claiming lives for centuries.
Directed by Jaime Osorio Márquez (The Sacrifice, The Squad), alongside co-directors Federico Durán and José Luis Rugeles (Rebellion), THE AWAKENING was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 2026 Guadalajara International Film Festival. The movie is pieced together from the HBO Max television series Mil Colmillos (A Thousand Fangs), which ran for one season in 2021.
I have yet to watch the seven-episode series, so this review is based entirely on the feature-film version released by Well Go USA Entertainment.
Growing up, I was spoiled as a film fan. I experienced the heyday of testosterone-driven action movies, and one of my earliest memories of the genre was when my father took my brother and me to see PREDATOR, starring the ultimate ’80s action star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was only 10 years old, but that experience stuck with me.
To this day, PREDATOR remains the gold standard against which I judge action, science fiction and jungle-set movies. That’s a pretty high bar for any film to clear.
Interestingly, THE AWAKENING feels like two movies rolled into one. The first half is practically a Spanish-language love letter to John McTiernan’s PREDATOR, and if you’ve seen that classic, you’ll probably recognize the similarities immediately.
An elite military unit (sound familiar?) enters the Colombian jungle on an operation that quickly goes sideways. Before long, the soldiers find themselves caught in a frenzied nightmare, battling primeval forces and firing buckets of bullets at an enemy they can’t see.
This is where THE AWAKENING really shines. The film delivers the kind of intense, testosterone-fuelled action that brings back memories of watching those exceptional ’80s action movies. The gunfights are exciting, the tactical operations give the soldiers a sense of purpose, and the danger lurking in the jungle keeps the tension building.
The characters may not be as memorable as those in the film they’re paying homage to, but the action pulls you in and gives you plenty to enjoy. For fans of old-school military action mixed with science fiction and horror, this first half is a lot of fun.
Unfortunately, the movie loses some of that momentum when it shifts gears.
The story first introduces a second timeline at the beginning of the film, then throughout the film through flashbacks. It reveals that the Spanish conquistadors encountered the same supernatural presence some 500 years before the modern-day military operation. It’s an intriguing idea, but the transitions between past and present sometimes muddy the overall narrative.
Confused yet? You’re not alone.
The historical backstory adds another layer to the mythology, but the film doesn’t always give these events enough room to breathe. A longer runtime might have helped flesh out both the main storyline and its historical subplot, making the connection between the two timelines easier to follow. Then again, plenty of movies in this genre struggle to balance action, mythology and character development, leaving parts of their stories frustratingly murky.
Despite these issues, THE AWAKENING gets a lot right when it comes to its military action. The tactical sequences feel convincing, with the soldiers communicating, following orders and attempting to maintain cohesion as they adapt to an increasingly dangerous enemy. That sense of teamwork becomes particularly effective when cracks begin to form within the unit and the soldiers start losing control of the situation.
The Colombian jungle is practically a character in its own right. Its oppressive atmosphere, wet darkness and sense of isolation create an unsettling environment as the soldiers push deeper into hostile territory. There’s a constant feeling that something is stalking them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
That atmosphere also strengthens the horror elements. As with any good horror movie, the audience knows something terrible is coming, but the uncertainty surrounding when and how it will happen keeps the tension alive.
For me, the biggest problem with THE AWAKENING is its use of dual timelines. Just when the film builds up a head of steam with its high-octane action, the narrative shifts into the past and brings that momentum to a halt. The historical material isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but it needed a stronger introduction and better integration into the main story.
The performances help keep things on track. Claudio Cataño, Alejandro Buitrago (Narcos), Héctor Sánchez and the supporting cast bring credibility to the film, helping ground the supernatural elements in the experiences of the soldiers caught in the middle of this nightmare. Their performances also make it easier to remain invested in the characters, even when the storytelling becomes muddled.
Final Thoughts
THE AWAKENING may not reach the heights of PREDATOR, but it clearly understands the appeal of a military unit trapped in a hostile jungle while facing an enemy beyond its understanding. The film combines intense tactical action, supernatural horror and an unsettling atmosphere to deliver an entertaining genre experience.
The biggest drawback is the way the dual timelines interrupt the action and complicate the story. With a little more development and a smoother transition between the historical events and the modern-day mission, the film could have been even stronger.
Still, there is plenty here for fans of jungle-set action movies, military thrillers and supernatural horror. If you enjoy watching soldiers face overwhelming odds in an environment where something deadly lurks just beyond sight, THE AWAKENING is worth checking out.
THE AWAKENING arrives on Digital November 10, 2026, from Well Go USA Entertainment, followed by Blu-ray and DVD releases exclusively through Amazon on December 15, 2026.
