The Abandoned (2006)

An adopted woman returns to her home country and the family home that she never knew and must face the mystery that lies there.

Director:

Nacho Cerdà

Writers:

Karim Hussain (screenplay), Nacho Cerdà (screenplay)

Stars:

Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden, Valentin Goshev

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Anastasia Hille	...	Marie Jones
Karel Roden	...	Nicolai
Valentin Ganev	...	Andrei Misharin / Kolya Kaidavosky
Paraskeva Djukelova	...	Marie's Mother
Carlos Reig-Plaza	...	Anatoliy
Kalin Arsov	...	Bearded Russian Patriarch Man '1966'
Svetlana Smoleva	...	Bearded Patriarch's wife '1966'
Anna Panayotova	...	Bearded Patriarch's daughter '1966'
Jordanka Angelova	...	Blind Woman 'present day'
Valentin Goshev	...	Patriarch - present day
Jasmina Marinova	...	Patriarch's Wife
Monica Baunova	...	Emily
Marta Yaneva	...	Natalya

Storyline

In 1966, somewhere in Russia, a wounded woman drives a truck to an isolated farm with two babies. Forty years later, the film producer Marie Jones leaves her daughter in California and travels back to her home land in the wilderness of Russia. Marie is one of the children and had received a phone call from the notary public Andrei Misharin, who told her where the farm of her family is located. Marie arrives at the abandoned house and meets the stranger Nicolai, who tells her that he had also received a call from Misharin and he is her twin brother. Weird things happen in the house and Marie and Nicolai are haunted by zombie-like ghosts of themselves. Further, they find that they are trapped in the house and can not leave the place.

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Plot Keywords:

house | inheritance | father daughter relationship | woods | island | 

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Taglines:

Death never runs out of time.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence/gore, some disturbing images, nudity and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official soundtrack site

Country:

Spain UK Bulgaria

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

23 February 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los abandonados

Filming Locations:

Sofia, Bulgaria

Box Office

Budget:

€3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$782,000, 25 February 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$1,255,524, 4 March 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castelao Producciones, Filmax International, Filmstudio Bojana

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmax wanted a name actress for the role of Marie and there were some executive negotiations with actresses like Nastassja Kinski and Holly Hunter. Director Nacho Cerdà insisted on an unknown because he wanted to bring more humanity to the character. Cerdà picked up Anastasia Hille after a casting session in London and Filmax finally went with the director's choice.

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Goofs

The initial scenes reveal Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, although the heroine confirms she has arrived in Russia.

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Connections

Features Arachnid (2001)

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Soundtracks

Warming up for the Cold
Composed by David Kristian
Performed by David Kristian

User Reviews

good start

The abandoned is a great film and a testimony to Nacho Cerda's ability to direct. This film takes you to a place you really wouldn't want to go. Set in the woods of Russia, where even the Olga boat man wouldn't show, the fright level of this film is high and the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the movie. The main character (Marie) Anastasia Hill does an excellent job and keeps you in a state of suspense. Karel Roden (Nicolai) plays a great character and compliments (Marie) in a good way. The movie has a wonderful story/plot and is not afraid to throw the ball when it comes to horror movies. Cerda did not pull any punches and hits the horror movie scene with a right cross to the jaw.