The Abandoned (Lionsgate/2006)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

In the “here comes another lame Horror film” department, Lionsgate continues issuing titles in their “one of 8 films to die for” series, Nacho Cerda’s The Abandoned (2006) torments us with two of the all too common basis for such films these days.  One is the latest zombie cycle.  The other has to do with American tourists dumb enough to go to what is left of The Soviet Union for vacation, though they are still smart enough to stay away from Chernobyl!

 

This is formulaic with contrivances that are beyond silly, but the only thing I can give this credit for is not overdoing it like so many other such films do at every opportunity.  Some Horror fans may be amused, but this never ultimately adds up and the better things it tries have been done better elsewhere.  The result is a sometimes ambitious failure.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is soft and color gutted unfortunately, making the visuals look like a bad joke.  Compositions are not memorable and depth is also an issue.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is lively enough and the highlight of the disc, though it has some harsh high end like the end of the opening credits when babies screaming badly turns into a jet plane landing with its usual stretch.  Trailers and a making of featurette are the only extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo