(1986)
2
Donald Guarisco
This low-budget Canadian thriller is effective because it goes for a simple but very direct approach. Writer/director Boon Collins makes excellent use of scenic mountaintop locations and maintains tight control of his storyline, allowing the tension to develop in a slow-burn style before paying off during the third act. Better yet, there is a nice plot switcheroo that changes the game up around the film's midway point and adds another dimension to the storyline. Collins also gets strong performances from his cast: Roberta Weiss's underplayed performance is a welcome antidote to the shrieking scream queens in a lot of horror fare from this era while Lawrence King Phillips brings the right amount of menace and glee to his half-crazed mountain man role. One of the most interesting elements of Abducted is that the focus is suspense instead violence or sleaze - and effective filmmaking and performances allow the film to pull this mandate off. In short, Abducted is a nice low-key effort that will provide a nice change of pace for horror fans seeking a break from the usual blood-and-thunder shocks.
Abducted on AllMovie
Abducted (1986)
