(REVIEW) “ABANDONED” Gives Urban Exploration an Unexpected Turn

Courtesy of IMDB

Ghost hunting and found footage horror have enjoyed a growing presence in the genre, fueled by our fascination with what might be waiting just outside the camera’s view. Meanwhile, urban explorers on YouTube have turned entering abandoned buildings into entertainment for those of us who prefer our tetanus risks strictly theoretical. Bringing those worlds together makes perfect sense. There is already something unsettling about walking into a place everyone else has left behind. Add a camera, the pressure to attract viewers, and a friendship on shaky ground, and common sense suddenly has some serious competition.

I recently had the privilege of watching “Abandoned,” a 2026 UK horror film from director and co-writer Joby Stephens, who shares writing credits with Joe Bird and Andrew Daniel. Making its North American premiere at this year’s Screamfest, the film follows two urban explorers hoping to rescue both their channel and their friendship. Their search for a viral video leads them into a derelict facility scarred by sinister experiments, where capturing something extraordinary becomes considerably less important than finding a way out. It is an accessible setup, with the pursuit of online attention giving the characters a believable reason to venture somewhere deeply uninviting.

Before discussing what lurks inside, the location deserves some applause. This facility is an incredible find, offering the kind of atmosphere that a production could spend a fortune trying to manufacture. There is a little of the laboratory from “Stranger Things” mixed with the unsettling appeal of an abandoned asylum. The building suggests a history before the story begins explaining it, encouraging you to imagine what happened behind its walls. It makes the explorers’ fascination understandable while leaving you questioning their judgment. That combination is a testament to the value of location scouting. I wanted to explore it myself, although my enthusiasm would probably have expired somewhere between the entrance and the first unexplained noise.

Just as essential are Grace Gallagher and Cameron Wight, who carry much of the film on their shoulders. Their chemistry gives the friendship a believable foundation, making its survival matter alongside the more immediate question of whether either character will escape. Both actors keep the relationship convincing even when the story slows down. They commit to the concept and handle its changing demands without losing the human connection that makes the premise worth following. With so much screen time devoted to this pair, their ability to sustain interest is crucial.

The strained friendship also gives the film something more substantial than a simple excuse to send people into a creepy building. Saving a channel and saving a relationship are different ambitions, even when the characters hope one successful expedition might accomplish both. That tension adds value to the quieter material. I appreciated having a reason to care about what these two stood to lose beyond their equipment. Their performances help maintain that investment, though there are stretches where the actors are doing more to propel the experience than the unfolding mystery.

That is where the pacing becomes an issue. I enjoy a slow burn, particularly when each quiet passage changes how I interpret the next one. In “Abandoned,” the wait occasionally feels prolonged without a corresponding increase in unease. The facility establishes expectations quickly, but the story does not always build on them with enough consistency. A stronger progression of small disturbances could have made those stretches feel purposeful and increasingly threatening. The criticism is not that the film needs constant activity. It is that the stillness could do more to make us uncomfortable.

Courtesy of IMDB

The shadow ghosts appearing in security footage show how effective that approach can be. These moments invite viewers to inspect the image and discover something unsettling for themselves. They also make good use of the film’s interest in cameras: recording a space does not necessarily mean understanding what occupies it. Those glimpses were a highlight for me because they allow the horror to intrude without demanding a major confrontation. More touches in that spirit could have rewarded close attention and deepened the sense that the explorers were missing something dangerous.

Then the final 20 minutes arrive, and “Abandoned” moves from something resembling “Grave Encounters” into territory closer to “Resident Evil.” The shift brings a welcome burst of energy, along with an enjoyable willingness to push beyond the expectations established by the opening. It also changes the kind of nightmare we are watching. I appreciated that ambition, although I wanted the transition to feel more connected to the earlier material. Subtle groundwork for the change could have made the revelations feel both surprising and satisfying, giving the finale greater weight beyond its immediate chaos.

Even with those reservations, Stephens demonstrates talent worth following. He recognizes the dramatic value of an evocative setting and gets committed work from his leads. There is also something encouraging about a film willing to expand its premise instead of staying entirely within familiar boundaries. The next step is bringing those strengths into closer alignment, allowing atmosphere, character, and escalation to reinforce one another throughout. There are enough effective moments here to make me interested in what he does next.

For viewers willing to embrace its deliberate pace, “Abandoned” offers enough unsettling atmosphere and unexpected turns to make the journey worthwhile. Between its eerie setting, shadowy corridors, and atmospheric sound design, something is appealing about experiencing this particular nightmare on the big screen, with the surround sound turned up and an audience along for the ride. After all, there's nothing quite like sharing a collective jump when something goes bump in the dark. And with enough suspicious details lurking in the background, a second viewing might be worth the trip. Just remember, exploring abandoned buildings is considerably more enjoyable when the only thing you're risking is someone stealing your armrest.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the"I Love Horror" podcast, and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!