Death never runs out of time.
A film producer who was adopted as a baby and sent to America, returns to her native Russia and the family farm. Once there, strange things begin to happen including the disappearance of her guide, the manifestation of ghosts (including her own!) and the appearance of another man who has been drawn to the farm for the same reasons.
Genre(s): Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Runtime: 99 minutes
Rating: 5.8/10 (5,284 votes)
Release Date: 11 September 2006
Country: Spain, UK, Bulgaria
Languages: English, Russian
Company: Castelao Producciones
Sound: Dolby Digital
MPAA: Rated R for violence/gore, some disturbing images, nudity and language.
Director(s): Nacho Cerdà
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Producer(s):
Carola Ash - associate producer: Future Films
Kwesi Dickson - co-producer
Carlos Fernández - executive producer
Julio Fernández - executive producer
Julio Fernández - producer
Teresa Gefaell - line producer
José Luis Jiménez - line producer
Stephen Margolis - co-executive producer
Albert Martinez Martin - associate producer: Future Films
Alexander Metodiev - producer: Bulgaria
Antonia Nava - co-executive producer
Mario Reinach - line producer
Gergana Stankova - consulting producer
Writer(s):
Karim Hussain - (screenplay) &
Nacho Cerdà - (screenplay) &
Richard Stanley - (screenplay)
Cast:
Anastasia Hille - Marie Jones
Karel Roden - Nicolai
Valentin Ganev - Andrei Misharin / Kolya Kaidavosky
Paraskeva Djukelova - Marie's Mother
Carlos Reig-Plaza - Anatoliy
Kalin Arsov - Bearded Russian Patriarch Man '1966'
Svetlana Smoleva - Bearded Patriarch's wife '1966'
Anna Panayotova - Bearded Patriarch's daughter '1966'
Jordanka Angelova - Blind Woman 'present day'
Valentin Goshev - Patriarch - present day
Music: Alfons Conde
Carola Ash - associate producer: Future Films
Kwesi Dickson - co-producer
Carlos Fernández - executive producer
Julio Fernández - executive producer
Julio Fernández - producer
Teresa Gefaell - line producer
José Luis Jiménez - line producer
Stephen Margolis - co-executive producer
Albert Martinez Martin - associate producer: Future Films
Alexander Metodiev - producer: Bulgaria
Antonia Nava - co-executive producer
Mario Reinach - line producer
Gergana Stankova - consulting producer
Writer(s):
Karim Hussain - (screenplay) &
Nacho Cerdà - (screenplay) &
Richard Stanley - (screenplay)
Cast:
Anastasia Hille - Marie Jones
Karel Roden - Nicolai
Valentin Ganev - Andrei Misharin / Kolya Kaidavosky
Paraskeva Djukelova - Marie's Mother
Carlos Reig-Plaza - Anatoliy
Kalin Arsov - Bearded Russian Patriarch Man '1966'
Svetlana Smoleva - Bearded Patriarch's wife '1966'
Anna Panayotova - Bearded Patriarch's daughter '1966'
Jordanka Angelova - Blind Woman 'present day'
Valentin Goshev - Patriarch - present day
Music: Alfons Conde
Posted on: December 7, 2008
March 23rd, 2008
This flick I picked up as a open-viewed DVD bargain and watched itafter 11 pm. I even had some scary lighting around the plasma. But, mayI ask what was this "thing" about? Maybe its a deeply kept Sovietsecret? Was it an allegory upon the former Soviet regime? Am I lookingfor some kind of plot here?
Yes, well, if you are too, you'll be disappointed. I am still unawareof what was going on? Was it all a nightmare? Was it an after life tripthrough the gates of hell? Indeed, what is this film about?
I loved the cinematography and bucolic background. I laughed at thevery phony gore and special effects. The skulls were just too funny. Idid enjoy the wild pigs and that being a high light, wondered was thisa stab by the producers at the old Communist guard and their abuses ofdevouring the common citizen, while lavishing themselves with theirblood?
Again, only the producer can perhaps shed some light on what this allwas about.
Did they die in the end? Were they always dead anyway and in a timewarp? Inquiring minds would like to know.
April 14th, 2008
I had a few issues with the storyline, but I found the cinematographyand visuals to be absolutely top-notch!
The shot selection and opening scene montages that are mostlydialog-free are very, very well done…and extremely well woven fromXavi Giménez' incredible images. The camera sees the most unusual, evenugly, things in the story so adeptly that it truly lends a hauntingbeauty to the horror.
I found myself more enthralled with the technical beauty of thefilm…which seemed to speak volumes in a shot. It was never reallywhat you expected it to be.
I'm not the right person to judge the horror, but I found the filmitself to be a remarkable visual treat!
May 13th, 2008
The Abandoned has great cinematography. That's about the only goodthing that can be said for The Abandoned.
The Abandoned stars a character who is supposed to be an middle-agedRussian woman who also speaks English. Much of the movie features herbabbling to herself, and other characters, in Russian, with nosubtitles, so anyone who does not speak Russian will have no idea whatshe is saying a lot of the time. This also applies to several othercharacters. If they wanted to make a Russian movie, they should havemade one. If they wanted to make an English movie, they should havemade one. If they wanted to make a hybrid like this, they should haveput subtitles up during the Russian portions of dialogue. But theydon't.
The main character is a middle-aged woman, but she has the voice anddemeanour of a teenager. She constantly uses foul language. She losesher temper at the drop of a hat. She falls down and cries up a storm tothrow herself a pity party out of the blue. She says to her ownreflection in a mirror: "What are you staring at you (…swear wordhear that I won't list in order to keep this reviewfamily-friendly…)?!" and then proceeds to bash and break the mirrorwith her hand. Her behaviours are certainly highly inappropriate forage. This role easily could have been played by a young woman the sameage as in typical horror movies. I suppose they went with an olderactress to save a few extra bucks that a pretty younger actress wouldcost, even though what they directed the actress hired for the movie todo is totally inappropriate for her age.
The acting is atrocious from the main actress, and from everyone elsein the movie.
I suppose The Abandoned is technically supposed to be asuspense/thriller. But the problem with that is, suspense can only workif the viewer *cares* about the main character. For suspense to work,the main character needs charisma, charm, and strong acting skills. TheAbandoned's main character has none of the above, therefore it fails asa suspense/thriller.
The Abandoned doesn't really have a story. More like a mishmash ofrandom scenes, haphazardly slapped together and drawn-out in anoverlong way to artificially pad the movie to a feature lengthrunning-time.
To end this review on a positive note, there *is* a good entertainmentproduction called "The Abandoned". It's from the old television show,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Season 3, Episode 6, production code 452.That is also called "The Abandoned", but unlike the movie that sharesit's title, Deep Space Nine's "The Abandoned" is chock-full ofsuspense, great acting, scary scenes, engrossing characters, and awonderful story. After watching *that* version, I figured it'simpossible to go wrong when a production titles itself "The Abandoned."But then this movie came along and proved me wrong. The good news is,if you check out the aforementioned television episode version of "TheAbandoned", you'll have a great time with that. Much moreso than withthe movie.
May 26th, 2008
First of all I have been a fan of Nacho Cerda's movies since 2000.Iconsider his two shorts "Aftermath" and "Genesis" as one of the mostvisually stunning and beautiful films ever made.I finally had a chanceto see his full-length debut "The Abandoned" on DVD and was blownaway.The cinematography is utterly beautiful.Nacho Cerda manages tomake an isolated farmhouse and forest incredibly creepy.The film isdefinitely one of the best technically executed horror films that Ihave seen in a long time with top notch sound design and decentacting.40-year old Marie learns that her mysterious,unknown birthmother has left her some property.She journeys to Russia,meets the twinbrother she never knew she had and gets stuck in a house full of ghostsof the past.One hell of a creepy and menacing film that oozesatmosphere.10 out of 10.
June 13th, 2008
you will need it for this movie.it moves along pretty slow,bu to befair it does build some suspense,and there a few good scares,and oneblood curling moments,in my opinion.the character(there are just twomain ones)are interesting,and the idea of the story is interesting.thesetting is very appropriate.the acting is good,and the dialogue issparse.yet is still found it lacking.here's why.even though there issome suspense,most times,those moments are dragged out too far,pastwhere the moment should end.at that point,suspense is replaced withboredom and impatience.at least with me.and unfortunately there are afew too many of those moments.there are a few other movies thrown intothe mix,so if you're a stickler for originality,this might not be yourmovie.so,is it worth it in the end?i'm on the fence with this one.youbest bet is to catch this on cable or as a cheap rental.for me,TheAbandoned is a 5/10
June 25th, 2008
Very nice Spanish production! Latterly, Spanish studios have beenreleasing excellent productions in the horror/mystery genre, and this"THE ABANDONED" is one more title which clearly proves that!
It's a very dark movie with shady and mysterious ambiences. Thecinematography is excellent with a fantastic camera work (great camerashots and plans) and surreal imagery. The settings are also great,especially those beautiful landscapes. The plot is complex andnon-linear, because it seems it goes in a kind of a looping form… it'slike a circle from where they cannot escape…
I liked the story, the acting, the soundtrack (which is also very darkand mysterious, and it is great providing suspense to the film), butwhat I appreciated the most was the production, the dark ambiences, thesurrealism, which turns this movie into one very obscure and weird… Iscore it 8/10, especially because of that!
June 28th, 2008
This movie had a lot of style. Very well made from a technical point ofview. The sound editing and effects department did a great andeffective job.
But the story just demands too much suspension of disbelief from theviewer. Maybe that was precisely their intention, but the movie is toovague and loose for its own sake. Without spoiling anything I can saythat there is symbolism, and an inside-logic within the movie, whichmay demand a second viewing. The only problem is that by the end of thefirst I was too bored and disappointed to care.
The movie sometimes wanders in Lynch-ian territory but it seemsamateurish next to the real thing. At times this feels like a very poorman's "Inland Empire", but with less plot, and all the answers – andthey are all a bit stupid.
The movie is not a complete waste, though. The atmosphere is creepy andthere's tension and mystery throughout. However it all fizzles out bythe end. BTW, this could have been a much better movie had the endingoccurred a bit earlier.
I can't really recommend this. "Rinne" (Reincarnation) is similar insome aspects but a much better movie than this one.
5/10
August 20th, 2008
I was surprised that I actually got a few chills out of this movie. Ifound myself saying things through the first hour like "boring, sowhat, who cares, on with it". I would say this movie is fashioned afterthe creepy Asian horror films, where it is quiet and creepy. The firsthour I really was pretty bored, and considered turning it off numeroustimes. I am glad I didn't because the ending was actually pretty cooland made the story. Without the ending the movie could have easilygotten a 3 or 4. In fact the ending was so good I could give this moviea 7, but considering I had to suffer through the first hour doesn't cutit. I liked the fact that this movie gave me a few chills, and evenmade me jump at once, but I wouldn't recommend this movie over others!
October 25th, 2008
The Abandoned (2006) has to be one of the most over-hyped films fromthe 8 Films To Die For, Horror Fest which was held two years ago. Sincethe release of the films, I have seen several from the fest, all ofwhich were incredibly disappointing, especially the mediocre Dark Ride(2006). I do not understand why these films were lauded with the praisethey received, but I see it as a gross injustice, the fault of thecinematically naïve, blindingly accepting nonsensical crap, and notgiving credit where it is not due.
A botched script is a major letdown in this mess, and it serves itspurpose well: to completely turn off the viewer. I did not care forwhatever "story" I could grasp through the holes in the "plot" and theperformances of Anastasia Hille and Karl Roden left much to be desired.The twist is not memorable, merely recycled fodder from C and D-gradefilms that have slipped from the public eye—not even a kill or a propershock to even grab our attention.
The film is beautiful technically: beautiful cinematography puts theRussian location to great use, and a passable score suits the filmwell; the lighting gives the film a sense of overhanging dread, butwhatever fear one might hold within is consequently ripped away once itis realized that A), not much happens, and B), the mess of a story,coupled by the inept performances do it no favors.
Not the worth the view, the rental or the purchase. I have yet to seeall of the films from the Horror Fest, but judging by the mediocrereviews I have given this one and the others I have managed to see, Iwould suggest you stay away. A complete waste of time.