ABDUCTED 2: THE REUNION

**1/2

Written by Boon Collins and Lindsay Bourne
Directed by Boon Collins
Produced by Boon Collins and Richard Goudreau
Edited by Rick Martin
Director of Photography - Danny Nowak C.S.C.

Staring:
Dan Haggerty - Joe Evans
Jan Micheal Vincent - Brad Allen
Debbie Rochon - Sharon Baker
Raquel Bianca - Maria Marco
Donna Jason - Ingrid Weinhard
Lawrence King - Vern

This is a film I wanted to like. It had many things in it's favor, wonderful photography, decent direction, competent acting, and dialogue that was more then passable for the genre. Unfortunately there were two things I couldn't get past, the ending and a miscast Debbie Rochon.

You don't have to see the first Abducted to figure out the back-story, it's told through small exchanges of dialogue. Dan Haggerty is a woodsman whose son, Vern, kidnaps a young jogger. Haggerty tracks the son through the woods and supposedly kills the boy. Abducted II picks up 6 years later with Haggerty leading hunting trip for the rich and privileged. He returns to the town to lead Jan Micheal Vincent on an expedition with his son resurfaces and decides to take a bride. Enter a carload of women out for the weekend: Sharon, Maria, and Ingrid. Anyone can see where this is going. But there is a twist. The father never finds out that Vern is still alive until end, just in time to help the girls in their final dealings with the villain. Coincidence is way to involve the protagonist in danger, never a way to get them out. It cheats the audience. If I weren't cheated with a quickie ending I would have given this movie a much better rating.

The camera work was surprisingly clean and fluid. Most cinematography in lower budgeted films is pretty sloppy. Long, drawn out static shots assault the audience for ninety minutes, but not this film. We are treated to lots of nice tracking shots and even a few aerials. The actors work well with what they have, with the exception of Debbie Rochon. As much as I like Ms. Rochon, she doesn't have the range to play the whiny Sharon. Usually, in her other rolls, Ms. Rochon shines with a likable screen presence and breathtaking beauty. From what I've seen she is used to playing character types and clichés, but nothing subtle and natural. Here naturalistic actors surround her and make the awkwardness of her performance stand out all the more.

This isn't a bad movie, and it is one that I do recommend. I just wish it didn't cop out on the ending.

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