Not for kids 17 and under
Slow, moody haunted-house shocker; not for kids.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this Spanish horror movie isn't for spookhouse-loving kids. While it starts out slow and relatively restrained, it ultimately builds to scenes of ghastly violence and horror, including people (and babies) drowning or fed to flesh-eating boars. There's also a lingering shot of a fully-nude woman and some language.
- Families can talk about the appeal of horror movies. Why do people like being scared? What subgenres exist within the broad realm of "horror"? What makes something a horror film in the first place? Families can also discuss the prevalence of haunted-house legends around the world. What do you think the explanation is? Younger viewers might need an explanation of the difference between the Soviet Union's relationship with America in 1966 and that of the U.S. and Russia today.
What to watch for
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Violence: Grisly scenes of boars eating human flesh, mutilated zombies, and a man digging a bullet out of his own leg and sterilizing the wound with a heated knife. Attempts to kill two babies (by drowning and feeding to pigs).
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Sex: A belated-but-lingering scene of full-frontal female nudity that doesn't seem to have much to do with anything. Another glimpse of bare breasts in a possibly pornographic movie on hotel TV.
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Language: "F--k" and "s--t" are used under stress.
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Consumerism: Not an issue
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: The heroine smokes, but she loses her cigarettes in a river early on and doesn't resume the habit.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
The Abandoned by movielover4144
I pretty much slept the first 45 min and then at some point I actually thought I was dreaming. I thought that there was no way in heeck that someone spent the money to make the movie and in awe that I spent my money to see it. I always give any movie a chance BUT I left almost angry. Do not waste your money.
1
The Abandoned by ihavseenit
This movie is not worth seeing. Total waste of time. Just two people running around a silly, ugly old farmhouse, with nothing to do, chased by implausible ghosts. A 12-year-old could have written and directed this mess and done a better job. My advice? Abandon this one.
3
Falsely leading by labjab42
I was so excited to see this movie. It was part of horrorfest, which I missed. So when Afterdark pictures released the R rated version I could'nt wait for it. The trailers were the best part. I did enjoy the minimal gore, and the storyline was so so. I really should of made it to horrorfest. But because I'm a freak for horror flicks, cheesy ones too, I will probibly continue to see them if Afterdark releases the rest. It didn't suck, but it didn't thrill or scare me either.
Darcele', Las Vegas, NV
4
If you like suspensful not totally in your face go see by grafics65
I found this movie to be refreshingly scary but not in the sense of waiting to jump (like most Hollywood flix) but in the horror that might be...
It definitely doesn't feel like an American film, no Hollywood stars, no happy endings (ala The Player) It ran a little long but had enough twists and tie-ups to keep me interested.
With that said this is not going to be for most watchers, its dark, sad, has kind of a Silent Hill feeling to the way the story unfolds but better, more real, like this could really happen.
Anyhow I hope that helps someone make the decision to see or not. If you want fast paced, blood n' guts go see Saw3 or some other crap factory, MTV Video shot redux, but if you want a good movie like hasn't been mainstream released in a while, go see this one.
Just my $.02
5
abamdoned by indian joe
this is a very good movie I think that is a very good story and makes you think that there is more to life and death than we know. go see it.
it was scary because it was like a normal person walking into a adnormal
happening.
2
Nothing interesting about it ! by ccrajarshi
1. Senseless plot
2. Poor special effect
3. You will laugh seeing the ghosts - bad makeup!