6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
An American woman searching for her birth parents learns she has inherited a house in the middle of a forest in a remote area of Russia. It is the house where she was born. Abandoned and uninhabited for 40 years, it stands in total disrepair and neglect. What she finds is more than an old house. She meets a mysterious man claiming to be her twin brother and together they find the house holds dangerous secrets to a past they don't even remember. They are forced to relive a series of horrifying events and shocking murders that occurred just after they were born, and in the place where they were supposed to die.
Starring: Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden, Valentin Ganev, Paraskeva Djukelova, Carlos Reig-PlazaHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 17% |
Mystery | 7% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.34:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: LPCM 2.0
English, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
I loved The Abandoned. At least for a while. I was in. Invested. Committed. Fully on board. For nearly forty-five minutes. But then I felt my attention begin to wane. I was glancing at my cell phone. Shifting in my seat. Was there anything more to the film's otherwise fantastic setup and established eeriness? That became the question I continually asked myself as the story inched towards its conclusion, haphazard flashbacked exposition and all, until finally, at long last, it reached its destination and slammed a period at the end of its long, winding run-on horror. Was it worth the watch? The time? The price of admission? Read on...
The Abandoned's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is a dark, haunting beauty, full of impenetrable shadows, dingy hallways and sickly colors perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the film. Skintones are often splashed with mossy greens and jaundiced yellows, while chilly blues light the forests beyond the house. The house itself is crawling with fine detail, from the texture of every wood plank and floorboard to the specks of dust, draft-stirred cobwebs and bits of debris that litter the halls. Facial features and fabrics are also deftly resolved, and delineation is excellent, particularly considering how much of the house is slathered in shadow and darkness. (Sometimes the only light source being a dim flashlight in true tropey horror fashion.) There also aren't any significant instances of banding, blocking or noise cluttering said darkness, making for a suspenseful build minus any distractions that might remind the viewer it's all just a movie. Top marks.
The Abandoned's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is almost as effective, though it's no less effortless in its sonic presentation. Dialogue, though sparse on the whole, is prioritized perfectly, even when whispered or hissed. (Accents can occasionally prove tricky when voices are low but that's what subtitles are for.) Rear speakers are active and properly spooky, with downright evil directionality that really sneaks up on you. Pans are as silky as a wisp of ghostly smoke and dynamics are excellent, with some nice kick from the LFE channel when matters grow tense and the house nears its endgame.
The Abandoned could use a better third act but between its atmosphere and performances, there's enough here to warrant a look. Unearthed Films makes it easy too with a top notch video transfer, an excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, and a surprisingly deep and comprehensive supplemental package. This one earns a slight recommendation for the flick and an enthusiastic thumbs up for the disc.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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