Really don't know what drove me into seeing 'Abduction 101'. On reflection, will put it down to curiosity, with it appearing in my "more like this" section and also not actually minding low-budget and appreciating horror. It certainly wasn't the concept (which sounded really bad and ridiculous), the cover (which was hardly anything unique), the title (a generic one and reading the story summary it seemed at odds with it) or the reviews (had heard next to nothing halfway decent about it).
'Abduction 101' turned out to be that awful, actually it was even worse than expected. Actually feel angry at myself for listening to my oft-misguided curiosity and not paying attention to those warning me to not give it a chance, they are right on the money on this one. Am not trying to sound harsh, this is my annoyance talking while controlling it enough to not sound self-centred (like so many reviewers these days). And no, that it is low budget is no excuse for such bad quality, some films that are low budget actually show effort in the other elements and turn out at least reasonably. Saw no degree of effort here in 'Abduction 101'.
Where to begin with the criticising? The production values look very cheap throughout. Especially so with the distractingly chaotic editing in the last act, while there is no atmosphere in the photography or lighting. This looked like a student film that was assessed and failed on a catastrophic level. The music over-emphasises everything inappropriately and can get repetitive, again especially in the last act.
The writing is completely flat with an awkward flow and can get self-indulgent. Particularly in the early portions of the film (or the first act), with it being most noticeable in the narration. Which was completely pointless, had no depth or subtlety and felt disconnected from what was going on rather than moving the storytelling forward. The story is paper thin, so dull that it makes the short length at least twice as long and felt like three separate badly plotted films in one.
Starting with a first act that very quickly loses the viewer's attention and goes on forever. The narration really did need to go. The middle is the least bad section, but not by much. There is still no tension or suspense, it is more silly than entertaining and the shock and sleaze factors are taken so excessively far they come over as gratuitous. And one can go on with pointing out what was so bad about the truly amateurish in all senses third act.
None of the characters engage or endear, all flimsy and irritating. The acting makes going through the motions acting look good. All of the actors look so detached and so distant with each other. Any sense of threat, which is next to none in the first place, is too predictable and bland.
In a nutshell, awful. 1/10
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