Abducted, the new horror/sci-fi thriller from Glen Scantlebury and Lucy Phillips (My Tiny Universe, Steal America) stars Trevor Morgan (Chasing 3000, The Rookie) and Tessa Ferrer (Go For Sisters, Grey’s Anatomy) as a couple who are abducted from Griffith Park by unknown assailants. Together with four other couples they meet in their imprisonment, they must figure out who has taken them–and why.

Tessa Ferrer and Trevor Morgan star in "Abducted."
Tessa Ferrer and Trevor Morgan star in “Abducted.”

Morgan and Ferrer play David and Jessica, a couple visiting Los Angeles from New York. While on a sightseeing hike near the Griffith Observatory, they are taken hostage by spooky figures in orange hazmat suits and gas masks. They wake up, in their underwear, in a dank, dark room where they are held and subjected to intense psychological abuse and strange medical experiments.

Jessice (Tessa Ferrer) attempts to escape in "Abducted."
Jessice (Tessa Ferrer) attempts to escape in “Abducted.”

Numerous escape attempts reveal fellow kidnapped couples, each with their own theories: Justin (Doug Haley) and Summer (Emily Graham-Handley) who reinforce Jessica and David’s believe that they were kidnapped to be held for ransom as Jessica’s dad is a General in Afghanistan and Justin’s is a wealthy producer; Eliot (Aidan Park) and Maria (Vivan Dugre) are scientists who believe it is alien abduction and have been following similar missing people cases across the country. They believe the aliens take couples so that they can create a human-alien hybrid who can take over the earth; and Buzz (Ross Thomas) and Tiffany (Jelly Howie) who believe it’s the government creating super-soldiers.

A spooky, silent child (May Turnure) wanders the halls in "Abducted."
A spooky, silent child (May Turnure) wanders the halls in “Abducted.”

Full of spooky details (hair and nails don’t grow, phones never lose their charge though they don’t get a signal, a pale blonde child wandering the halls) and a complement of red herrings, Abducted does a good job of keeping the audience in suspense (and at times, horrified) and questioning what is going on. While there are a few ‘wait, but why…?’ moments, the film is well-paced, well-written and well-acted and for fans of thrillers/suspense movies,  a well spent hour and thirty minutes.

Abducted is a Entertainment One and Hidden Agenda presentation with Pavement Pictures. The film can be purchased on DVD for $19.98 and is also available on Xbox Video. For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLyIs-18m1I

Reaching a few select theatres this weekend is director Ron Morales’ foreign film, Graceland. Arnold Reyes stars as Marlon Villar, a loyal long-time driver to a corrupt Filipino Congressman named Manuel Changho (played by Menggie Cobarrubias). After picking up his daughter Elvie and Congressman Changho’s daughter Sophia from school one afternoon, Marlon finds himself in the most inconceivable situation after a plan to kidnap the politician’s child goes terribly awry. Desperate beyond belief, Marlon must do everything in his power to save Elvie from the men holding her hostage.

Graceland is a Filipino thriller that unfolds comfortably on the shoulders of writer and director Ron Morales. With the simplest of premises, the film crashes through the “mundane” barrier by paying close attention to detail and allowing the story to unravel fluently. This taut and suspenseful crime-drama develops with such intensity and unrelenting flavor that the credits roll before you even have a chance to let it all soak in. Graceland is a dark and devious ride that never feels easy, but never feels wrong.

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Rarely does a movie begin and end without a scratch or blemish. Graceland generates some fair criticisms that ultimately address the subject matter more so than the film itself. Tackling some serious issues regarding underage prostitution, Graceland takes a moral stand but hardly delves deep into the heart of the problem. Rather than exposing the audience to the harsh reality of it all, Morales tip-toes around getting his film too caught up in the  issue. Perhaps in doing so, Graceland ends up trading some credibility for a stronger, more direct, final project.

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A convincing turn by Arnold Reyes, an evolving script from Ron Morales and a dark subject matter all manage to lift Graceland far past sustainable heights. A shocking and entertaining journey, Graceland is another glowing example of the exceptional world-wide films that often sneak past the typical American moviegoer. This 84 minute revenge thriller delivers the goods and never looks back. If the opportunity presents itself, Graceland is one movie experience you won’t regret.

GRACELAND is currently available on VOD and will also be in theaters this weekend. Visit the film’s website to see if it’s playing near you.

Grade: 4/5

Other work from MCDave can be found at his original site Movie Reviews By Dave