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 throughoutalmost 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, Texasa 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 occultthe 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 toto 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 disappearanceat her own vigil.
Considering the frightfully frequency of female abductions in the US border townthe 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 daughterno 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 fashionin 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 strongmaking 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 surfacemissed cinematic gems along the tumultuous path that leads one to its powerful conclusion.
That is NOT FORGOTTEN.
The movie is a thriller, and a thrill-ride, in that it takes very unexpected twists and turns throughoutalmost 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, Texasa 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 occultthe 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 toto 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 disappearanceat her own vigil.
Considering the frightfully frequency of female abductions in the US border townthe 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 daughterno 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 fashionin 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 strongmaking 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 surfacemissed cinematic gems along the tumultuous path that leads one to its powerful conclusion.
That is NOT FORGOTTEN.