Abducted (I) (2014) User Reviews

Good storyline. Horrible film.

[mzjazzy_cbjr · 3/10 · 23 January 2015]

Good plot. Not original. But good.

Too many characters looked alike in this film and I was having trouble understanding each person's story because of it.

Also, the acting was overplayed at times and underplayed at times. For example of overplay, when Matt kept giving his monologues about how much he loved his child and kept repeating the same message in each different monologue. An example of underplay, is when Matt comes home and finds his child taken and his wife beaten unconscious and covered in blood. His first reaction was "oh no, I'm going to find Lara". I think in a situation like this, one would spend just a little more time concerned about the well-being of their spouse and then set off to find his daughter after he is assured that his wife will be taken into medical care. But there was no assurance because he beat the two police that were there to suss out the situation.

The fire scene - terrible.

And how he just falls unconscious right in front of the hospital, after having driven the whole way there. Also how it took what felt like an hour for medics to arrive and help him, right outside the hospital. And must I even say, if it was a (sort-of) happy ending anyway, why wouldn't you finish it and give the audience a little closure? I think the audience deserves at least that after wasting over an hour on this film.

Not that great

[traghor · 3/10 · 25 June 2014]

To the guy knocking others using fake ID's. I see 2 other 10 star reviews who are obviously associated with the film in some way.

I honestly don't see how this movie won any awards. I wasn't expecting a "Taken" quality movie, although was hoping it would be, but it was definitely worse than I expected. I watched about 20 minutes or so and then started skipping through the movie hoping it would get better and then just gave up and skipped to the end since I hated to at least not finish it. If you like British movies or like Mark Harris then you "might" like this, but I wouldn't recommend it to my friends. I enjoy these types of movies, so I'm hoping the next one will turn out better.

Could have been more ..

[syrinxcors · 4/10 · 20 August 2014]

Overall an enjoyable revenge flick - if you're killing time before doing something else. If you've set this one up as the feature of a movie night, you will go to bed disappointed. I found the performances of most to be fairly believable with the exception of Mark Harris himself. I'm sorry to any fans who may read this but the over the top emotional monologues, I found quickly entered comical territory. So, if you haven't seen the film - then you can probably guess the plot line - and as a bit of fluff entertainment it fits the bill nicely.

There are loose plot lines, some moments of utterly absurd dialogue, and some satisfying revenge violence - but I won't watch this one twice.

Worth a look, just don't alter your schedule.

Terrible film

[graham_watkins · 1/10 · 13 May 2014]

The acting was wooden, the plot was poor. 1h26 of my life I won't get back. I guess they were trying to make something like Taken but unfortunately failed way short of both Taken films. The difference being that Liam Neeson has screen presence and can work his character with much more ability. The whole premise of the film was to play on Mark Harris' boxing career and his name as a local hero and warrior, but the fight scenes were terrible. Mark Harris' acting was probably the worst in the whole film, but that was a tightly run contest. It's very rare of ex-sportsmen to make a successful job of acting, and I think only Vinnie Jones has got anywhere close. Do yourself a favour, watch something else instead.

Very average.

[rushknight · 5/10 · 23 June 2014]

There's a whole lot of nonsense in the reviews for this film so far.

So let me add mine! Oh boy! The film is definitely low budget, but that in and of itself is not a problem. The makers use their budget fairly well and do a lot of good things with it. The movie was easy to watch, the scenes were well shot with the camera. The music selected is also very appropriate from scene to scene.

As far as the acting goes.. well some people would criticize it, but the reality is that not much acting was required of the cast. The roles were very static; you are either a good guy or bad guy, scared little girl or rational cop. In that light, the cast performed very well.

The hero was really not the best actor, unfortunately. He appears to be bi-polar, as he leaps into dramatic emotional moments in the space of a few heartbeats. And some of his reactions to the tragedy that befalls his family are.. not believable at all. His real strength was punching his way through mobs of bad guys, which wasn't very well thought out. The fight scenes were rather blah.

Or meh. If you prefer.

The subject matter of the film (kidnapping, the child sex trade, forced prostitution and murder) is very deep material and deals with a world that most of us know nothing about. The actors attacked their roles with gusto, making for some believable bad guys. But the film fails to really pull you in. There are simply too many factors that destroy the illusion. Things that seem to defy common sense.. You find yourself saying, "If I was the bad guy, I wouldn't do that." In fact, most of the setup behind the baddies' operation seemed very out of place. Almost third world. Everything from their methodology to their holding places to their business methods.. It all seemed like it was sloppy and easy to break apart.. Like something the police could have handled easily years ago had they just been trying a little bit. Believability is the heart of movie making, and if the illusion is weak, all of the film's strong points become lost.

Errors jump out at you. Things that a good editor should have caught. For instance, vicinity errors (when things aren't in the right place from scene to scene). Blood where there shouldn't be blood, or the hero's face having bruises and scratches when he received NO hits to the face in the scene previous. Things of that nature are generally easy to catch if you are watching carefully. The fact that these were left in film rather than being fixed is testament to the low budget constrictions, as there was probably not enough money to re-film scenes that needed fixing. But they do ruin the atmosphere a little.

All in all, I wanted to like this film, but it's just very.. average.

I applaud the makers though, I hope that they try again. I feel like they really have it in them to be great.

Dreadful

[fionros · 1/10 · 5 June 2014]

Sadly I have to agree with the last reviewer. And I also agree that British low budget films should be supported but surely they could be (and are) better than this. The acting of the lead character was glaringly bad but the rest of the cast were alright. The first part of the film was quite good really but once the location moved to LA it went downhill, didn't add up and was unnecessarily violent with the camera dwelling overly long in in some scenes, particularly in the final scene. This film should put people off doing a house swaps and has painted a very ugly and depressing picture of Los Angeles. I don't think there is any comparison with "Taken".

Low budget and it speaks volumes

[mrlloydcopper · 2/10 · 18 November 2018]

Aside from the lead actor not being anywhere near up to the standard of being in a film let alone the lead, there are too many holes in this story that needed to be answered. It was an important topic matter but it was a dealt with in an amateurish way that really only offered some violent scenes of retribution that felt good for a moment. A wasted opportunity.

Awesome must see!!!

[muzikmanent · 30 June 2014]

This film reminds me of the movie Taken with Liam Nielson with a smaller budget of course. Nonetheless I think it was a good story. I really liked the London scenes. But I felt it took a little long for the family to go to the US. I love action movies and while this film isn't the best I've seen, it was far from the worst. I was interested all the way through and found myself rooting for the lead character. The story needs to be told. Awareness on this issue is long overdue. Would love to see this movie on a larger scale and certainly on a global. The cast was top-notch and I can imagine with a bigger budget for more action scenes this will do well in the theaters.

DEATH WISH AD NAUSEUM

[nogodnomasters · 5/10 · 3 August 2018]

Matt (Mark Harris) is a grease monkey and former boxer who takes a holiday to the states with his family. Not just any place, but the city where children are kidnapped and sold to childless parents without adoption papers and where young girls are also forced into prostitution, especially if they are English tourists.

Matt's little girl Lara (nicely played by Honor Kneafsey) is kidnapped in what was a set up from the on set. With his wife beaten into a coma and his daughter missing, police suspect the boxer with an arrest record. With the help of a street wise stranger, Matt goes Charles Bronson all over the bad guys while easily avoiding the cops.

One of the nice things I noticed about this film is that the kidnapped British teens were given the same treatment as their kidnapped non-English speaking counterparts. Just makes one proud to be an American.

This is another "Death Wish" type of film. It has a some differences, but basically it is a vigilante film. The acting and plot were okay, but then again this type of film doesn't require too much.

Parental Guide: f-bomb, rape, nudity (Kelsey Hardwick)

How not to make film

[william7-3 · 1/10 · 2 March 2018]

They must Have trawled the world to find so many poor actors,

This film gave me more than what I expected

[acefillmore · 10/10 · 28 June 2014]

One word. Wow. Okay It was predictable at times but I still felt myself waiting to see what would happen next. I watch a lot of indie films and usually turn them off in the first 15 minutes but I was hooked once Matt Hollis and his family landed in Los Angeles. The gangsters were realistic. Not too many bandanas and tattoos. Just real hardcore twisted people. I love films that don't care about having a happy ending. And this is one of those. Hope that doesn't spoil it for anyone. I'm just saying. All story don't end with the guy getting the girl or the hero saving the day. I advise you get a hold of this film for your collection, I came across it on Amazon while looking for new Thrillers. I m now a fan and the film delivered. I'm curious to see what's next from this group of filmmakers

Brilliant movie on low budget

[eoinej-538-114803 · 7/10 · 30 April 2014]

Don't listen to rubbish views on this film. Suspend the low budget and imagine if the Taken budget had been available to these guys. The drama of the story is brilliant. I loved the English guy in America concept. The comeuppance of the low-life traffickers was welcome. The ending for the "good guys" is refreshingly realistic. It is raw and lacks the Hollywood gloss but so what?

Some may feel the family element is a little old fashioned but no more than the genre popularised by Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis. Somebody will make a brilliant movie out of this story one day... If they dare!!

White knuckle action

[keeley73 · 10/10 · 26 March 2014]

Brilliant film. Didn't want it to end. The acting was of superb quality.

I watched it with my mother and son who enjoyed it equally. The pace was atmospheric and intriguing to watch.

Mark Harris gave an excellent performance and portrays grief and love in a wonderful way. This film wasn't cheesy like so many other kidnap movies. From the write up I thought this would be a lot like taken but it stood alone and in my opinion THE FILM OF 2014.

I will definitely be looking out for this guy in the future. The rest of the cast were great too, especially Honor kneafsey.

Classic movie, that shows the upcoming talent from the British Film Industry

[djhnvn-meqhw · 10/10 · 14 May 2014]

This movie has been done a superb standard of quality, and is the epitome of a brilliant thriller. The acting was of a high standard and not one for second did it occur to me that this is your average low-budget film.

The story-line is interesting, and not one minute of the film contains a boring moment. The film will have you gripping your sofa, as it entails from scene to scene. 'Abducted' is a must watch for all, and I have recommended it to all my friends. Very pleased and will definitely be watching this film again!

10/10!

Intense. Good Film

[giovanniwatson · 9/10 · 25 June 2014]

I was recommended to this film from a friend. I finally ordered it and was able to watch it last week. I love finding gems like this. Not influence by huge studios. Started of a little slow but a much needed backstory into the main characters world in England. It is an intense story and good acting. The lead character was engaging and I like the mix of British and American cast. The little girl in the movie was extremely talented and a scene stealer. I started to tear up at the end of the movie. Her performance was awesome. Looking forward to seeing more of her. Overall, I recommend this film to others if you're looking for a good indie action packed film.

Great little raw picture house movie

[Cuckooingfilm · 9/10 · 5 September 2014]

I don't know what all the bad remarks are. Loved it. It wasn't the same as all the Hollywood no sense and was raw, true, dark, violent and there was nothing held back. OK, I guess it is very deep..but don't we think this was intentional. I don't see this was a action film but a dark crime drama. It was a very much like " nil by mouth ' film. Yes it turned my stomach in places so I'd imagine women and some men may not like this. It's not dressed up. But I do think it's very realistic. I read about the guy getting drunk when family getting beaten and losing daughter...I can only see that yes he sot the plot his world upside down. We don't all act the same way and let's remember ... It's a movie....so common sense doesn't always prevail as if he handed himself into the police' then game over - no point. ....if you like dark horrific crime film...your like this. If you like dressed up Hollywood you won't. It's no taken.

Wow...that was pretty good

[Petersanford23 · 10/10 · 5 September 2014]

I don't normally write on this occasion I felt I had too. Being a father this film was tough to stomach but I'd do exactly what Mark Harris did here and kill the lot if they touched my girls hair on her head at all. A great vigilante film, low budget, indie yes. Don't expect a blockbuster but I would recommend this if you can accept it's very very controversial and very close to the edge. Showing a pedophile about to pounce Isn't an easy thing to stomach... But it happens and you don't see it as very cleverly they take you right to the Edge and stop....but your mind takes your further .... A Charles bronson death wish... Loved the lead......

Absolutely Amazing

[soflye · 9/10 · 28 June 2014]

After Watching Abducted I was speechless, This Movie really made me think that some one in my own family like my daughter who is very young , but could end up Abducted like this wow!! I was amazed how much action there was, I really wanted my two little kids to see but the violence might of been a bit too much for them. And of course the language. I would invite my friends to see this with me again< I absolutely enjoyed this flick, in a day an age where a lot of flicks these days simply SUCK!! but this one, THIS ONE WAS actually Absolutely Amazing. Visually this film had minimal special effects but just enough to keep the stunt men busy, The Shots seemed mind provoking , if the DP and the Director made all the decisions based on the writing they did a wonderful job visually telling this Action packed story

Proper hardcore

[Patrickoshea100 · 10/10 · 5 September 2014]

I have read some way past comments and some present. Hence I decided to give my opinion. Some really are harsh trolls and I can't see for why. This is film making from actors and new producers and what a blinding first job they done. Someone else wrote about fx being crap. I didn't see any fx accept gun shits but not every film needs to be a Liam neeson high budget taken. It was a breath of fresh air watch a real film. Made by Londoners in London and Hollywood. A lot of bottle that takes and a lot of legality I'd imagine. I hope they do abducted 2 and do get more money as I reckon mark harris could do really well here. A good little film. Yes very violent so you have been warned. No wonder it's picked up so many film festival awards. .....

No action but really close to the mark truth

[Ritaramani10 · 10/10 · 5 September 2014]

I found the film disturbing because of it's truthfulness. I liked the acting the lead was a real average day father, man - struggling like us all with family, work , love and life....after losing one son already he wasn't going to lose his family after getting them back. If you look past the fact it isn't a big budget or a Hollywood red carpet film - your really warm to it and get drawn in. It's no way an action and I'd imagine distributors making that angle to sell but it is a art house dark drama. To actual ate this film from UK on a low budget and to film in the back streets of LA I have to applause the Producers.if more would do this we'd benefit from seeing more true movies...I have all that fx stuff so this was real to me...really much alike Prisoners...a lot like prisoners.....10/10 for creativity