The Abandoned Blu-ray Review

The Abandoned's Blu-ray video presentation delivers an impressive 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer, capturing the film's eerie atmosphere with remarkable fidelity. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio expertly frames the dingy hallways and densely shadowed settings, creating a haunting visual experience. Skintones are purposefully tinted with mossy greens and jaundiced yellows, enhancing the unsettling environment. Exterior scenes bathed in chilly blues provide a stark contrast to the interior's oppressive ambiance. The house itself is meticulously detailed, from the texture of wood planks and floorboards to cobweb-stirred dust particles, with excellent delineation even in the darkest corners.

Unearthed Films has stayed true to the original digital intermediate, delivering a relatively crisp 1080p video that complements the film's gritty, dark aesthetic. While not an eye-candy visual, the presentation offers sharp video with ample depth and clarity that align with the movie's somber tone. There are minimal issues with banding, blocking, or noise, even during rougher effects sequences, ensuring an immersive viewing experience devoid of distractions. This Blu-ray release successfully translates "The Abandoned's" grittier cinematography to high-definition without unnecessary processing, resulting in a clean presentation free of age and debris artifacts.

The Abandoned's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track excels in its immersive sonic presentation, effortlessly creating a haunting atmosphere. Dialogue, though sparse and occasionally whispered or hissed, is prioritized perfectly, ensuring clarity even in low tones. Accents can pose a minor challenge when voices are low, but subtitles can easily resolve this. Rear speakers are effectively used to generate a spooky ambiance with impressive directionality, making the eerie effects feel almost tangible. Pans across channels are seamless, comparable to a ghostly wisp, and dynamics are excellent, offering a satisfying kick from the LFE channel during tense moments as the house's sinister plot unfolds.

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio mix is notably effective with its use of haunting effects and directional cues, enhancing the film's jump scares and underlying tension. The soundstage is atmospheric and intense, enveloping the listener with chilling ambient noises. The bass is firm and punctuates the action effectively, adding to the overall sense of dread. Dialogue remains clean and intelligible throughout, even during Russian-spoken segments. The excellent dynamics further enhance the experience, with high fidelity preserving the haunting musical score performed by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

The Blu-ray release of "The Abandoned" by Unearthed Films brings a comprehensive collection of extras that provide a deep dive into the film’s production, showcasing an array of insightful interviews and detailed featurettes. The disc notably includes lengthy, in-depth interviews with the director Nacho Cerdà and writers Karim Hussain and Richard Stanley, all conducted by Zoe Rose Smith. These interviews, while variable in video quality, deliver extensive background and production insights. Complementing these are several behind-the-scenes featurettes like "Making of The Abandoned," alongside alternate cuts, endings, deleted and extended scenes that provide a fuller picture of the creative process. Additional features include outtakes, promotional galleries, storyboards, and multiple trailers, making this a must-have for dedicated fans and cinephiles eager to delve into the intricacies of this psychological horror film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Interviews: Extensive discussions with Nacho Cerdà, Karim Hussain, and Richard Stanley.
• Featurettes: Behind-the-scenes insights including "Making of The Abandoned" and "Nacho Cerda: The Trial of Death."
• Alternate Cuts: Various versions of specific scenes.
• Alternate Endings: Different conclusions to the film.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes: Additional sequences not included in the final cut.
• Outtakes: Bloopers and unused footage.
• Promotional Photo Gallery: Production stills and promotional art.
• Storyboards: Complete storyboard presentations.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original promotional material.
• French Trailer: Alternative international trailer.

"The Abandoned," directed by Nacho Cerdà, delivers an eerie, atmospheric horror tale set against the desolate backdrop of a remote Russian farmhouse. The film stars Anastasia Hille as Marie Jones, an American movie producer who returns to her homeland in search of her biological roots, only to encounter far more than she anticipated. She soon meets Nicolai, portrayed by Karel Roden, who claims to be her long-lost twin brother. This familial revelation and a series of ghastly occurrences unravel within a dilapidated farmhouse haunted by pupil-less doppelgänger ghosts. The movie thrives on its spine-chilling atmosphere and slow-building suspense, crafted adeptly by the haunting cinematography of Xavi Giménez and the evocative score by Alfons Conde.

The screenplay, penned by Karim Hussain and Richard Stanley, is steeped in haunted house tropes, weaving elements like time loops and surreal frights into the narrative. While Cerdà’s direction maintains an unrelenting tension, drawing viewers into Marie's disturbing journey through her inherited home's mysteries, the film's strengths lie in its atmosphere and suspense rather than outright scares. Performances by Hille and Roden convincingly portray confusion, loss, and reconnection amidst the unfolding horror. However, some might find Marie's character less sympathetic due to her hostile edge in the early acts, which slightly undercuts the dramatic impact of the final act.

Despite its achievements in building a foreboding atmosphere, "The Abandoned" falters somewhat in its payoff. While it avoids cliché jump scares, it occasionally leaves the viewer searching for more substantive frights. Notably, Richard Stanley's influence as a co-writer could be more pronounced, as his signature macabre touch appears subdued. Overall, "The Abandoned" stands as an evocative and well-crafted exercise in suspense, though it may leave horror aficionados divided on its ultimate efficacy as a chilling ghost story.

The Abandoned

A deeply atmospheric entry into the horror genre, "The Abandoned" delivers a memorable ghost story with a distinctly European flair, emerging from After Dark’s Horrorfest movie festival. The film's hauntingly executed narrative is grounded by strong performances that enhance its chilling premise, even though the third act falls short in sustaining the initial momentum. Despite this minor letdown, the eerie setting and imaginative realization of fear keep the audience engaged throughout.

The Blu-ray release by Unearthed Films significantly elevates the viewing experience. The top-notch video transfer beautifully captures the film's dark and shadowy aesthetic, ensuring that every frame is presented with optimal clarity and depth. Additionally, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track amplifies the tension effectively, enveloping the viewer in a richly detailed soundscape that accentuates every creak and whisper.

Complementing the excellent audio-visual quality is a surprisingly deep and comprehensive supplemental package. This robust collection of bonus materials provides valuable insights into the film's production and thematic elements, making it an indispensable resource for fans and film scholars alike.

Conclusion: 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.