The Abandoned

IFC Films | Release Date: January 8, 2016

7.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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virginiaproudAug 30, 2016

The horror genre relies on characters with everything to lose making stupid choices. A locked door with instructions not to enter can only be an invitation to go straight down to that dark basement (alone) to take a look-see. But this one isThe horror genre relies on characters with everything to lose making stupid choices. A locked door with instructions not to enter can only be an invitation to go straight down to that dark basement (alone) to take a look-see. But this one is absolutely stuffed full of genre cliches, camera angles, lighting, one note characters and a twist that managed to be somewhat predictable yet also totally ridiculous at the same time. Clearly the writer just gave up on plot. Bottom line, there's only so much wandering around in the dark looking scared and whispering "who's there" I can take, before I begin to fast forward. But to end on a positive note... an extremely short running time. Especially if you fast forward.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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quincytheodoreJan 18, 2016

Abandon hope for originality, all ye who enter.

There's no delicate way to say this, Abandoned is a husk made by imitating other horror movies, especially those with isolation theme, even down to the almost exact screenplay. Scene by sceneAbandon hope for originality, all ye who enter.

There's no delicate way to say this, Abandoned is a husk made by imitating other horror movies, especially those with isolation theme, even down to the almost exact screenplay. Scene by scene comparison could be made to Keifer Sutherland's Mirrors to the most recent Last Shift. It matters not the level of sophistication replicated, it eventually comes down to silly characters running through plainly made corridors.

A troubled young girl has taken a job on secluded building as security. Right from the bat it follows so many conventional examples without adding anything. It uses backdrop of a psychological disease, the call from parent, the banter with rude co-worker. It creates a question of why such large building has only two people as security and these are not the most capable ones either, although this is an uninspiring effect of the dubious story, not intentionally done to set up mystery.

It doesn't create any engaging atmosphere as the few on-screen characters are highly unlikable despite the potential of the cryptic setting. They banter with mundane dialogues, almost equivalent to internet squabble. Their disabilities are merely there to enact stupid stereotypical jump scare moments. There's not much logic or structure to be had here, and it's even worse later on when the movie takes a dive with scrambled plot.

It also fails on producing any sense of dread. The beautiful setting promises a good clear environment for terror, yet it repeatedly shows only barren hallways. It's no understatement that it's one hour worth of plain tour of corridors with some possible haunted rooms in between. The progression is far too predictable, introducing vague entity as the characters are lost or confused if it's their minds playing trick at them.

The Abandoned is sloppy attempt at recreating horror from isolation premise, it starts poorly and ends with an implosion on itself as though the production value just abandoned any sense of coherency then pasted scenes from other movies.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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dajhornApr 8, 2018

The Abandoned has nothing original in it, but I still need to write 75 characters.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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