Another Hole in the Head Film Festival 2024 Coverage
Abductee review
An intriguing investigation into a man who believes beyond reason that aliens are abducting him at night.
Festival reviews will not contain spoilers.
Abductee
Directed by William Hopp
Written by William Hopp
Starring Virginia Newcomb, Dusty Song, Alexandra Wright, Greg Audino, Tiffany Thomas, Nicholas D. Lamb and Burt Culver
Abductee Review
Though it’s billed as a found-footage movie, those turned off by the conventions of the format shouldn’t dismiss Abductee because of that. The movie isn’t beholden to the structure in the strictest sense. Cameras are more like extra characters within the story than the principal means of delivering it. We see some things from their perspective, of course…but those averse to the format will find that Abductee isn’t the kind of found-footage movie they’re worried about.
Drew (Dusty Sorg) suffers from sleep paralysis. He’s convinced there’s something more to it…and believes those suspicions are confirmed by the cameras he sets up to watch him sleep. His sister Laurie (Virginia Newcomb) comes to try and help him…unaware that he’s become obsessed with the idea of alien abduction. His mental state seems to be deteriorating as quickly as Laurie’s unattended personal life. The further she allows her brother to investigate, the more she begins to believe. But at what cost?
Abductee is, on the surface, a first-person investigation into alien abductions. Drew’s obsession threatens his relationship with Laurie and his own well-being. Each new piece of information he uncovers fuels his confirmation bias…but also makes Laurie’s skepticism harder to maintain. Mostly, Laurie just wants her brother to be okay. Their relationship dynamic is what deepens the story in Abductee…elevating it from an interesting quasi-found footage investigative horror story to something even better.
Virginia Newcomb is tremendous as Drew’s worried sister. Everything about her character feels real. Grounded in a more terrifying reality than even her possibly tortured by aliens every night brother. Her fears are consistently proven right. Drew is in rough shape…and she doesn’t know how to help him. She begrudgingly becomes his accomplice in his widespread investigation. Even as evidence begins to mount in his favor…she’s forced to question whether it’s a road worth pursuing. His mental state isn’t improving, and her life is falling apart around her. She’s steadfast in her commitment to Drew no matter what happens. Newcomb plays the part to perfection.
If you’re a fan of stories about aliens or alien abductions…Abductee has a pretty interesting one. You won’t see little green men running around…but there is a deep look into concepts that surround alien abductions. Drew crashes what amounts to an alien anonymous meeting…hoping to find stories that explain what’s happening to him. He also visits an “expert” in the field. A visit to the hospital reveals a strange object lodged behind Drew’s ear…an object that the expert warns him not to remove. Abductee’s investigation remains interesting throughout. As Drew wakes up screaming every night…and Laurie tries to determine how far to let it go.
The abduction storyline reaches a more than satisfying conclusion. There are more than enough interesting investigative moments getting to that point. But it’s the relationship between Drew and Laurie that makes Abductee work as well as it does. The big moments that happen, particularly late in the story, hold more weight because of how much the story and performances make us care about these people.
Abductee isn’t scary in the traditional sense. It’s mysterious. It carries a certain sense of dread. The ending has a way of leaving you feeling a bit haunted. The fact is that Abductee, despite its story of alien abduction, is played too realistically to be scary. That isn’t a negative take, mind you. Having a grounded take on something extraterrestrial works for the story they’re telling. It just means that there are few moments where you anticipate anything popping up to give you a shiver.
As such, there are a few slow patches in Abductee. The performances of Newcomb and Sorg are engaging enough to carry us through them. For the most part Abductee keeps its investigation movie in the right direction. Pausing for some strong scenes between Laurie and Drew. It takes an intriguing premise, adds as excellent central relationship, and builds to a haunting conclusion. And it does all that without falling into any found footage traps. Instead, it makes the concept a part of the investigation. A worthwhile one at that.
Scare Value
The central relationship between the siblings steals the show in Abductee. Virginia Newcomb is so believable as the stressed-out sister that it elevates the rest of the film around her. The story is engaging and well-paced. Throw in some effective imagery and a solid ending and you have a fine recipe for success. Abductee has all of the above.
