Film Review – Abandoned

Screenwriters Erik Patterson and Jessica Scott (“Another Cinderella Story,” “Deep Blue Sea 2”) make a very specific choice to use the experience of postpartum depression to inspire their horror endeavor, “Abandoned.” It’s nothing new for the genre to pull elements of real-world despair to fuel a cinematic experience about the feeling of hopelessness, but it takes a truly gifted storyteller to pull off such a tonal high-wire act. Patterson and Scott aren’t the pair to generate a deep understanding of pain while creating opportunities for frights, making “Abandoned” a troubling picture to watch in ways its creators likely didn’t intend. A genuine fear factor isn’t conjured during the excessive run time, with most of the effort devoted to scenes of distress, while the central mystery is a fairly bland understanding of supernatural influence. The project has a potent idea for an honest study of pain, but the production isn’t brave enough to do something different with all the crushing darkness it collects. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com