Abandoned Mine (2013)

This film is massively mediocre. Now that is obviously not a compliment, but it doesn't have to be an insult either.It has elements of recovered cam shots, but is not a found footage film. It has some elements of horror, but is not scary enough to disturb even the most highly strung small child. It has "coming of age" elements, but you don't really get to know the characters or invest in them enough to care. It's quite cheap, but not funny or "so bad it's good"This reminded me of a cheaper version of a Dawson's Creek Halloween episode. Which is... OK.Would I pay to go and see a Dawson Creek Halloween rip off? Hell No! But if it was on Netflix and I was desperately trying to avoid doing some work I might put it on. Actually I did, and it was... OK

And it's pretty clear from the initial scene that this is a B movie all the way. Though the rating should give it away with only a PG-13. In my experience, new movies with high budgets tend to go in for gore, which means an R rating. However, I love B movies and the hokiness that comes with them (and find fear is not based on disgust), so I gave this one a try. The overall movie was decent to be sure. There were the typical stereotypes (dumb jock, cool jock, comical Indian, dumb blond, smart blond with short hair) and they were done well-ish. Though I will admit to finding every joke made at the expense of the Indian guy a bit much within the first 5 minutes of his appearance. The real problem was in plot development. It was one of those where the writers clearly were unsure how to end the film after they gave an actually well done and surprising twist. They do play with time so separate events overlap at the end so you get numerous perspectives and that was really well done and entertaining. But the plot itself just sort of ended without a nice tie up. If that doesn't bug you, then give this one a try. However, I will warn you that you ought to keep the remote handy for fast forwarding in the beginning. The character development is long and since the film takes place at Halloween, viewers are forced to watch a montage of five minutes (but felt like an eternity) of two girls trying on costumes. Unless they are drag queens (and they aren't) there is no realistic way for two average white girls to have that many current Halloween costumes. It that sort of unbelievability that kills a B movie since they have so much less to work with. I relied on fast forward to take me through and I wasn't totally disappointed that I did continue on.

As the other reviewer noted, this is safe for kids to watch. But, I don't know if I'd want to subject my kids to the sub-par acting and storyline this movie delivers. I think I would much rather have them see Despicable Me 2, which is actually entertaining for adults as well(and still kid safe). I am not even sure how this got a pg-13 rating. I heard no swearing or even sexual innuendo to require such a rating. All I heard was a lot of banter from a bunch of teenagers that were not interesting at all. 15 minutes in, and I gave up on it. My time is too precious to wait around and see if an obviously bad film is going to get better.This movie didn't just lack sex, gore, and swearing-it lacked any bit of color to make the story interesting. No offense, but it's like a church commissioned this film.That kind of thing might be good for some, but not for me.

I Bill Wardell, was actually invited to go and see the premiere of: The MINE in Park City, UtahA Parents Review Of: The MINE…What a great movie it was, full of lots of scares, thrills, action and humor, etc… from start to finish it delivered on every level for a great movie experience, plus there were plenty of laughs to go around, with a very surprising twist at the end…The beginning of the movie was my most favorite part of the film, the way the director setup the premise and the movie drama right from the start, it was done better than I have seen in a long time!! So, be a little late you'll MISS It!And speaking of a LONG TIME, it has been a very long time since I have watched any movie, especially a very suspenseful and/or of the horror movie genres, that I would even think I could take my younger family too it, or that I would want to take my family to watch. Movies of today are over-sold and over-hyped with profane language, and all the other stuff that makes it not suitable for families.I was able to take my oldest daughter, just about to be a teenager… and wondered if I would regret it, even though I had been assured it was not this type of movie. I figured then I would have to explain a bunch of things going in the movie to my daughter, because it was a PG-13. Now days that does not mean much to an over protective mom and dad, not wanting to expose their kids to the violence, gratuitous sexual innuendos and/or brief nudity as they call it… apparently in Hollywood brief means you still see plenty of the nudity, but it is very fast!!As a parent who doesn't want to have my kids see or hear the awful language every-other word, type of movies, this was a very pleasant surprise to say the least!!"Jeff Chamberlain did a fantastic job of bringing this very well written movie to the big screen… in a very Alfred Hitchcock way. There was none of the bad stuff that you expect of adult type movies with R ratings; in fact he made a real effort to make the movie enjoyable for a broad audience. I commend him on that."I recommend this to any parent who wants their kids to be able to see a good scary movie without all the garbage. Check out this movie. Take the family…. I DID!!!Bill WardellKeeping Our Kids Safe