Short, sharp, and satisfyingly strange, “Abduct” is an indie sci-fi thriller that bends genres with body-swapping weirdness and offbeat charm.
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Abduct is a condensed sci-fi thriller giving off body-swapping and dark comedy vibes. Written by Chris Riggi and Ken Kirby, directed by Riggi, and starring both, the pair put their all into this low-budget thriller that, although not perfect, does enough right to make it worth your time.
Abduct begins in a bathroom, where a young woman, Emma (Nicole Sun), sees that she has a positive pregnancy test. Her beau, Chris (Ken Kirby), arrives soon after, ready to go on a trip with a couple of their friends to Santa Clarita. The group arrives at a sprawling desert oasis, where one of their friends is getting ominous text messages about a pickup, his suitcase full of pill bottles.
While the boys are toying around the property, Emma notices noises coming from the roof or ceiling, strange and guttural, but she doesn’t mention it, and night falls, bringing a bonfire and drinks.
As the group makes merry outside, there are suddenly flashing green lights disrupting the sky, fueling conspiracy theories, right before a car alarm goes off randomly. The group heads in where the friends play some games, and where Emma and Chris get into a heated private discussion about trying again for a baby (he obviously isn’t in the know).
Later that night, Emma’s boyfriend sees the green lights again and hears sounds, deciding to investigate, and leaves the group looking for him. Emma spies him for a minute in the hills before a burst of light erupts, and he disappears with it. I’ll leave you with that cliffhanger.
Visually, this film is quite lovely.
The camerawork shifts from broad, wide shots of the surroundings to narrow, tight, and jerky movements that can leave you wondering where to look.
The cinematography was well done, although there was a lack of sound to accompany the tense, heart-pounding moments that unfold in the final act. The score failed to capitalize on tense moments that could have been far more effective with more sonic accompaniment.
Performances across the board were solid, but Chris Riggi, when he makes his appearance, steals the show entirely. Measured and convincing, Riggi takes control of his script and plays a complex role I won’t reveal. His unnerving insistence that he should be trusted, coupled with our already heightened nerves, makes him a chilling and paranoid presence.
Dialogue sometimes falters in the big moments, but on the whole, the second half of the film finds its footing a little better, with steadier writing and more comedic bits to lighten the heavy mood.
I was worried at first when I started this film that it would be a little too direct, cutting to the chase very quickly and taking the viewers aback. However, this story is more devious and thought-out than I imagined.
Genre-bending in ways I can’t describe, the story is a wild mashup of styles that keeps the film unpredictable.
Though the story is sometimes over-layered with plot that doesn’t necessarily affect the outcome, ultimately, the crew found a way to wrap up multiple loose ends that come undone over the course of the very short seventy minutes.
Speaking of this, it’s nice to find a film that doesn’t get lost in itself and needlessly extend the run time. Abduct is a lean and tidy thriller, albeit a little uneven, that can draw a laugh or two and shock you with its unexpected twists and turns.
Driven by a passionate Riggi who throws himself wholeheartedly into the role, wearing all three hats as writer, director, and star, Abduct was a surprising treat that benefits from being compact and knowing how to stick the landing.
Clocking in at just over an hour, Abduct is a breezy and often funny watch that doesn’t waste your time and delivers for genre fans hungry for a fresh concept.
Overall Rating (Out of 5 Butterflies): 3.5
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