A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Abandon (2002): Dir: Stephen Gaghan / Cast: Katie Holmes, Benjamin Bratt, Charlie Hunnan, Zooey Deschanel, Fred Ward: Effective thriller that concentrates on the absence of mind and the ability to function. Katie Holmes is about to enter the corporate world when a detective contacts her regarding a missing boyfriend. The victim taught music but was also known for his daredevil behavior. Holmes begins to sense his presence, which plays tricks on her emotions. Intriguing plot with several twists but a wayward conclusion. Directed by Stephen Gaghan who gradually provides crucial information that works well until elements of the third act come undone into formula writing. Holmes does well as the lead playing a woman trying to figure out what is real and what is not. The ending presents one of those villain prospering themes that seem common in these films. Charlie Hunnan as the missing boyfriend isn't easy to figure out but he steals his moments. Benjamin Bratt as the detective is there to sleep with Holmes. This is just in case female viewers become bored and need manipulated. Zooey Deschanel plays a sorority sister and the role is wooden. The teenage appeal of the film works against it but it is well made technically with a message that seems real enough. The Film addresses power and risking anything without abandoning self. Score: 7 / 10

Abandon is a thriller starring Katie Holmes as a college student whose boyfriend,portrayed by Charlie Hunnam,disappeared two years previously. It is based on the book Adams Fall by Sean Desmond. The film co-stars Zooey Deschanel,Gabrielle Union and with Benjamin Bratt playing the detective investigating the boyfriend's disappearance.It is the directorial debut for screenwriter Stephen Gaghan, who won an Oscar for his script for Traffic.Embry Langan is a wealthy but reckless student at an exclusive private college until he mysteriously vanished, with airline tickets to Europe left unused and plenty of money still in the bank. Two years later, Katie Burke, Embry's girlfriend, is still dealing with his disappearance as she goes into the home stretch of her college career. With exams, a thesis, and job interviews to think about, Katie is already walking an emotional tightrope when Wade Handler, a police detective, enters the picture. Handler, a recovering alcoholic, has been ordered to reopen the Langan case, and as he questions Katie about the missing man, she finds her obsession with her former beau taking over her life, which leaves her all the more unnerved when she begins seeing Embry around the campus. Meanwhile, Handler's investigation begins to suggest Langan's disappearance may have been more sinister than imagined, and could be connected with other cases of missing students.The film is light on the chills and heavy on the atmospheric weirdness, and there are moments of jaw-dropping odd behavior.It is all about mood and atmosphere--shadowy gloom is dominant throughout--and viewers may grow impatient as the tissue-thin plot leads to an anticlimactic revelation. Still, Gaghan's sharp dialogue draws fine work from Holmes, and his supporting cast adds much-needed energy on the fringes of this lugubrious psychological thriller despite the fact that its plot line is too disjointed and muddled to offer much in the way of thrills.

mostly i found this movie non-believable,pointless and confusing.i didn't find it really predictable,but most people probably will.the acting was OK,but not great.Zooey Deschanel was the only bright spot,in my opinion.Benjamin Bratt appeared in the movie and was adequate.Katie Holmes was supposed to be the star,i think.i found her sub par,as usual.i don't really like her that much,and have yet to see he in a good movie.or rather i have yet to see her put in a good performance in a movie.the ending was something most people will probably see coming a mile away.it's not something i predicted,but it wasn't surprising either.my vote for Abandon is a 4/10

You might find going into this film, that it borderlines being a 'B' film. Not that it's bad, it's just not very good. Katie Holmes, being what I consider a mediocre actress, should really consider sticking to what she's good at. Playing, 'Joey' on "Dawson's Creek".For a part this size and with this dark force behind it, the casting really made an error in hiring Holmes for the lead in this piece. While beautiful, and not a bad actress, her innocence and small voice make her the wrong flavor of tea for the pot they were preparing. It was not a bad film overall, however there were times, when it tended to drag on, not make a lot of sense, and although I did enjoy the end of the film (especially the last fifteen minutes, or so), the rest of the time, it was carried a bit awkwardly. Only one part was a bit intense, while the rest of the film, was in my opinion somewhat silly. For some, it might leave you guessing, but I unfortunately figured out the gist of the end of the film, right from the beginning. And, while there is a twist at the end, it still leaves one wondering why you wait nearly an hour and a half to get to that point.The writing was average, the lighting and set design was good for this type of film, and again the casting was off, not only with Holmes, but also with Benjamin Bratt, who played the cop investigating the disappearance of Holmes' ex-boyfriend.If you're bored and need a good Friday night flick, and want something a little intense, and dark...you might find that this is right up your ally, however don't hold your breath with an outstanding film, because you won't find it here.