Abandoned - Film Review

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Abandoned (2022), directed by Spencer Squire, is a psychological horror film that blends supernatural elements with a portrait of postpartum depression. Starring Emma Roberts, John Gallagher Jr., and Michael Shannon, Abandoned explores the intersection of mental health and horror, following a young couple’s descent into psychological turmoil as they move into a secluded farmhouse with a dark past. Though modestly received, the film draws attention for its atmospheric storytelling and thematic exploration of motherhood, trauma, and isolation.

The film introduces us to Sara (Roberts) and Alex (Gallagher Jr.), a married couple searching for a fresh start with their newborn son. Seeking a quieter, simpler life, they move to an isolated farmhouse in a rural area, hoping the change will benefit Sara, who is struggling with postpartum depression. However, their new home harbours a tragic history: it was the site of a murder-suicide decades earlier, when a teenage girl, plagued by mental health issues, killed her parents and brother.

From the moment they arrive, Sara feels an overwhelming sense of dread. She begins to experience unsettling visions and eerie disturbances around the house, especially in the baby’s room. Initially, Alex dismisses her concerns, attributing them to Sara’s mental state and the challenges of new motherhood. But as the supernatural occurrences intensify, Sara’s grip on reality weakens, straining her marriage and putting her relationship with her son at risk.

As Sara attempts to uncover the dark secrets of the farmhouse, she becomes increasingly isolated. Her only ally is a neighbour named Renner (Shannon), who has a mysterious connection to the property. Through a series of revelations, Sara learns about the family who previously lived in the house and the tragic circumstances that led to their deaths. This discovery only deepens her paranoia and fear, blurring the lines between her own mental health struggles and the supernatural forces seemingly haunting her.

At its heart, Abandoned is a psychological exploration of postpartum depression. Sara’s journey reflects the intense and often misunderstood challenges that new mothers face. Her character grapples with overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, fear, and loneliness, magnified by her secluded surroundings and the eerie occurrences in the house. The farmhouse, with its empty halls and shadowy corners, mirrors Sara’s mental state, evoking feelings of entrapment and alienation.

The film portrays Sara’s postpartum depression as an antagonist in its own right, blurring the line between her mental state and the supernatural. She becomes increasingly consumed by guilt and fear, feeling as though she cannot connect with her baby. This disconnection is compounded by Alex’s inability to understand her struggles, which leaves Sara feeling isolated within her own family. The film’s portrayal of Sara’s isolation emphasises how postpartum depression can create a sense of profound loneliness, even in the presence of loved ones.

Abandoned uses Sara’s experience of motherhood as a lens through which to examine the horror genre. Her struggles echo a common theme in psychological horror: the fear of losing control over oneself or one’s mind. The anxieties that many new mothers face—about being a good parent, about the demands of childcare, and about the loss of personal identity—are intensified by the haunted setting. Sara’s role as a mother becomes both a source of fear and a potential avenue for redemption, as she fights to protect her child from the dark forces she believes are haunting them.

The film also raises questions about the sacrifices and transformations inherent to motherhood. Sara’s struggle to balance her identity as an individual with her role as a mother reflects broader societal pressures on women to fulfil idealised maternal roles, often at the cost of their mental well-being. By showing Sara’s vulnerability, the film challenges stereotypes surrounding motherhood, highlighting the complex emotions that accompany it—love mixed with fear, devotion tinged with doubt.



Abandoned combines the psychological horror of postpartum depression with a supernatural element rooted in trauma. The farmhouse’s tragic history symbolises unresolved trauma that “haunts” the present, echoing the idea that places and people can carry the weight of past suffering. This duality is present in Sara’s own life, as she grapples with the trauma of her mental health struggles and the stigma around it.

The film draws upon classic haunted house tropes, where spaces become imbued with the anguish of former inhabitants. The house’s history mirrors Sara’s internal struggle, creating a narrative where the supernatural and psychological hauntings are intertwined. This blurring of external and internal horror builds a layered narrative, wherein the ghosts of the past seem to feed on Sara’s vulnerabilities.

Director Spencer Squire uses a combination of cinematography, sound design, and pacing to cultivate an atmosphere of dread and isolation. The farmhouse setting plays a crucial role, with its creaky floorboards, dark rooms, and eerie silence amplifying Sara’s psychological distress. The isolation of the rural location heightens the feeling that Sara is cut off from any support system, intensifying her vulnerability.

The film’s colour palette is muted, dominated by washed-out tones that evoke the bleakness of Sara’s mental state and the oppressive energy of the farmhouse. Shadows are used to significant effect, often concealing potential threats or giving the impression that Sara is never truly alone. This visual technique keeps viewers on edge, reinforcing the idea that something is lurking in the house, watching Sara and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Sound design is another key component of the film’s tension. Subtle, unsettling sounds, like the whisper of wind through the walls or the faint creak of footsteps, create a sense of unease without overt jump scares. The soundscape mirrors Sara’s growing paranoia, as these noises take on a life of their own, suggesting that the house itself may be alive, reacting to her presence and her fears.

Emma Roberts delivers a compelling performance as Sara, capturing the raw vulnerability and emotional turmoil of a mother struggling with postpartum depression. Her portrayal is both nuanced and sympathetic, highlighting the often-overlooked challenges of new motherhood and the ways it can impact mental health. Roberts brings an intensity to the role, allowing viewers to feel the weight of Sara’s fears and frustrations.

John Gallagher Jr. plays Alex as a well-meaning but ultimately disconnected husband. While he cares for Sara, he is ill-equipped to support her through her depression, leading to moments of tension and misunderstanding. This dynamic reflects a broader societal issue where mental health struggles, particularly postpartum depression, are stigmatised or misunderstood, leading to a lack of empathy from those closest to the individual.

Michael Shannon’s character, Renner, adds an element of mystery to the story. As a local with insight into the house’s history, Renner becomes a link between Sara and the supernatural world that haunts her. Shannon’s performance imbues Renner with an unsettling quality; he appears both helpful and vaguely threatening, making the audience question his intentions.

Abandoned received mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences, with some praising its atmospheric tension and exploration of mental health, while others criticized its pacing and reliance on familiar horror tropes. The film’s slower pace, while effective in building psychological tension, may have contributed to its lukewarm reception, as audiences accustomed to more fast-paced horror might find the gradual unfolding of events less satisfying.

Additionally, some critics argued that the film could have delved deeper into Sara’s character and mental health journey. While Abandoned addresses postpartum depression, it does so within the confines of a horror narrative, which sometimes limits the exploration of the nuances of Sara’s condition. Nonetheless, the film’s approach to mental health within a horror framework offers a unique perspective on how psychological struggles can manifest as external, even supernatural, forces.

Despite these criticisms, Abandoned contributes meaningfully to the psychological horror genre, particularly in its focus on postpartum depression and the mental challenges of new motherhood. The film stands alongside others like The Babadook and Hereditary, which also address complex emotional themes through horror.

Abandoned is a haunting psychological horror film that tackles the themes of motherhood, mental health, and trauma. Through Sara’s character, the film provides a nuanced portrayal of postpartum depression, highlighting the isolation, guilt, and fear that many new mothers experience. The farmhouse setting and eerie atmosphere serve as an extension of Sara’s mental state, creating a claustrophobic, unsettling backdrop for her descent into paranoia.

Though it received mixed reviews, Abandoned offers a poignant and thought-provoking look at how trauma and mental illness can blur the lines between reality and horror. Emma Roberts’ powerful performance and Spencer Squire’s atmospheric direction make the film a memorable exploration of the horrors that can reside within the mind, especially in moments of profound vulnerability. In the end, Abandoned leaves viewers with a chilling reminder of how unresolved trauma can linger, haunt, and ultimately consume those who are unable to escape its grasp.

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