Fantastic!

Absolutely Fantastic

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

This rather Low Budget Supernatural/Occult/Thriller has "Taken" quite a Thrashing from Critics and it is Difficult to Understand all the Hate. It is a quite Different Film using Elements of Kidnapping, Alternate Identities, Scary Cults, and Slimy Street Stuff to Concoct an Engaging and Always Interesting Little Movie.The Acting is Uniformly Good, and the Cinematography is Above Average. The Story is Anything but Typical and it has a Creep Factor with its Setting, Make-Up, and Eerie Entanglements that Deliver a Surprisingly Suspenseful Tale of Terror.It is so Good that it almost Begs to have a Bigger Budget and a Longer Running Time to Explore even More this Bordertown Sleaziness and Fringe Religion. This is a Sleeper and most Likely will Gain a Cult Reputation that will Supersede its Initial Cold Reception.

I've been looking for a nice mystery movie to see and I came across Not Forgotten. After reading the many positive reviews here I decided that this is my movie! After watching it though, I was slightly disappointed. Maybe I just expect too much of a mystery, or maybe I have just seen way too many now and could figure out some of the things myself (not all though).Throughout the movie I had the feeling that they had a much larger story to tell, but they just didn't have the time for it and so they just decided to tell as much as they can in 90 min, leaving a lot of things unexplained or undeveloped, at least for me. The story is interesting and has potential, but they way it was carried out was not so good in my opinion. I didn't really care for any of the characters. I thought they were presented quite...whats the word I am looking for..emotionless? I didn't feel that both Simon Baker and Paz Vega really cared for their characters. They are acceptable actors in general, but there was just something off here. I felt as if they just went through the script without putting too much in it. For some reason, this was very obvious to me during the movie. It just couldn't engage me.As I mentioned before, they put way too many details that are left without explanation. OK, this really works for certain types of mysteries, but not really for this one. You just think "Why?". They would have been better off leaving some of them out. They constantly put new characters in and you wonder "Who are you? Why are you important?". Some events are also left completely unexplained. I don't want to give out any spoilers for the people who haven't seen it, but I will just say that I was not really impressed.In general, it is a mystery with a good idea, but a mystery that tried to appear too original when in fact it really isn't. And trying so hard is what fails it.It is definitely a movie I will soon Forget.

Not Forgotten has it all. I didn't know what to expect from noted commercial director Dror Soref, but what I got was a first class production that well exceeded my expectations for a "night at the movies."The movie is a thriller, and a thrill-ride, in that it takes very unexpected twists and turns throughout—almost from the get-go. What was refreshing about this film was that it always stayed several steps ahead of the audience. Most modern audiences figure out films too easily. I can emphatically state that this will not be the case in Not Forgotten. The tale follows a family living in Del Rio, Texas—a typical border town, between the US and Mexico. Although it starts off with scenes of girls' soccer games and hot dogs in the town squares, it quickly takes a turn to a darker side into the occult—the Santa Muerte cult (which roughly translates into "Holly Death").When the daughter of successful bank manager is kidnapped, it sparks a chain of events that don't stop igniting until the very end. This is the story of Jack Bishop (Baker) delving into his past in order to find his only daughter. Not only does the search involve the entire community of worshiping denizens of Del Rio, it encompasses the seeder inhabitants of the dark, back alleys and brothels of towns just South of the Border. It also takes us into up close and personal with the depths that humanity can fall to—to view it face to face. But the most chilling aspect was the narration by the kidnapped Toby Bishop. It's particularly haunting, as she's narrating days after her disappearance—at her own vigil. Considering the frightfully frequency of female abductions in the US border town—the film touches on the "what if"—in this case, what if the preteen Toby has been taken to Mexico and forced into prostitution. Her father states in no uncertain terms the lengths he is willing to go, the depths he will travel to find his daughter—no matter what he has to do find her abductors. In the words of Toby Bishop, "There are just some things that you can't ask the Virgin for…"Baker's transformation is enthralling. From soccer coach dad, to terrifyingly revengeful about getting his daughter back. No more mister nice guy isn't even close when he his got the perpetrators in his sights. The sheer brutality and Baker's cold dedication, make this one of those scenes that you can't forget. Not Forgotten is told in classic storytelling fashion—in the vein of Hitchcock. It is beautifully shot and full of surprising details. The cast, not just the leading but all of the supporting characters are tremendously strong—making this a very well crafted tale. The director is an imaginative filmmaker who creates art with suspense. It is definitely one to see again as all the clues now come to the surface—missed cinematic gems along the tumultuous path that leads one to its powerful conclusion. That is NOT FORGOTTEN.

I saw the preview for Not Forgotten and thought it was really good. I would really suggest seeing it. As far as thrillers go, I thought this one was very different, very original. From the very opening shot, I was completely drawn in. There's a great mix of action and suspense, and the scene in the bathroom with the beer bottle is spectacular!! It was incredibly intense. As far as movies to compare it to, I would say "The Forgotten" mixed with "The Missing." One of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Definitely see it if you get a chance!