“The Abandoned,” a film directed by Tseng Ying-ting, introduces us to police officer Wu Jie, whose attempt on her own life has a profound impact on it. She finds the body of a young Thai woman missing her finger and heart on the outskirts of town. Wu Jie’s research with her inexperienced colleague soon uncovers a horrifying pattern of gruesome killings involving migrant women who go missing. The investigation immerses them in a world of sinister secrets and imminent peril as they work against the clock to solve the clues and stop more deaths.
Wu Jie explores the intricacies of the case and faces her personal issues in the middle of the unrelenting search for the truth. In addition to illuminating the unsettling mystery behind the killings, the 2022 movie depicts the internal conflicts of the investigators, building to a horrific tale of desperation, suspicion, and the pursuit of justice. If you’re looking for more intense films, we have the perfect suggestions for you, exactly like “The Abandoned.”
Copycat (1995)
“Copycat,” which is helmed by Jon Amiel, centres on Sigourney Weaver’s character Helen Hudson, a criminal psychologist with a specialty in serial murders. She notices a trend as numerous killings occur throughout the city. The assassin is going after ladies, adopting the same techniques of well-known past serial killers in his quest for a perverted kind of notoriety. In an effort to stop the next murder, she starts working with detectives M.J. Monahan and Reuben Goetz to analyse the killer’s behaviour.
They are horrified to learn that the psychopath is going for them specifically, picking on the reclusive Helen and making fun of her by leaving a book on her bed. We are on the edge of our seats during the spine-tingling scenes where the hunters turn into the hunted, because we are so familiar with Wu Jie’s risky research. The ambiguity surrounding the killer’s plans and intentions, which may happen at any time, is what creates the unsettling atmosphere in both movies.
Holy Spider (2022)
In Mashhad, the holy city of Iran, there is a lone serial killer who preys on prostitutes. While doing an investigation in the city, Rahimi, a female journalist, sees the “Spider Killer” praised as a hero carrying out God’s will. Officials discourage her from getting involved in the case because they view the victims as crooked women, but she discovers a network of suffocating biases against them. “Holy Spider,” which was directed by Ali Abbasi, tells the horrifying true story of Saeed Hanaei, an elderly man who believed he was on a holy mission or jihad. Similar to “The Abandoned,” “Holy Spider” also shows society’s heartbreaking indifference to a marginalised group: immigrants in “The Abandoned,” sex workers in “Holy Spider.” Both films provide a glimpse in to the deranged psyche of the serial killer.
Memories of Murder (2003)
“Memories of Murder,” which is helmed by the renowned director Bong Joon-ho, presents a disturbing story that was influenced by a true serial killer case that occurred in South Korea in the 1980s. In a remote area, young ladies are brutally murdered, and detectives Park and Seo struggle to solve the case. Their shoddy probe exposes both their own shortcomings and the flaws in the police system. The film deftly blends dark humour with intense crime scenes to depict the investigators’ humorous incompetence and desperation.
The detectives work against a backdrop of social upheaval and political turmoil, encountering many false leads and dead ends. The film presents a sharp reflection on the terrifying toll that the pursuit of justice exacts on those who seek it, as the killer manages to evade capture. In case you enjoyed “The Abandoned” for its realistic and sinister handling of the intricacies of law enforcement, “Memories of Murder” is sure to impress you with its accurate depiction of the era, incredibly flawed characters, and outstanding performances from those involved.
Montage (2013)
The plot of the South Korean thriller “Montage,” also known as “Mong-ta-Joo,” centres on the unsolved kidnapping and murder of a little girl called Yoon Su-Yeon. A new case that bears resemblance to the previous crime surfaces fifteen years later, upending the lives of individuals engaged in the initial inquiry. Retired detective Kang sets out to solve the recurrent mystery, plagued by his failure to solve the terrible case from fifteen years ago. Su-Yeon’s mother, meanwhile, gets a letter claiming to have knowledge of the real reason for her daughter’s passing. Under the direction of Geun-seop Jeong, secrets and surprising revelations are revealed as the past and present collide and the quest for justice becomes more intense. A race against time to avert another horrific loss, “Montage” offers an emotionally driven inquiry like to that of “The Abandoned,” for fans of that film.
The Bone Collector (1999)
“The Bone Collector,” directed by Phillip Noyce, is a suspenseful crime thriller that centres on Denzel Washington’s character Lincoln Rhyme, a talented forensics investigator who suffers a quadriplegic injury as a result of an accident. The department presents him a case of a serial killer kidnapping people in taxis and killing them horribly just as he is thinking about assisted suicide.
Lincoln persuades the reticent Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) to serve as his investigative eyes and ears in the field. Before another victim is taken by the merciless killer, Rhyme and Amelia are challenged to decipher the culprit’s cryptic hints. Similar to “The Abandoned,” the police are desperate to discover the psychopath before any more lives are lost, and as a result, they put themselves in danger from the murderer.
The Chaser (2008)
The Chaser, a South Korean action movie directed by Na Hong-jin, explores the life of Joong-ho, a former investigator who is now a pimp. He starts to suspect a deranged serial killer after his girls start to inexplicably disappear after being phoned up by the same customer. Following a line with urgency, he learns that Young-min is the sadistic client responsible for the disappearances. Joong-ho, who is in a hurry to save one of his missing daughters, gets frustrated by the police’s lack of assistance and decides to handle things himself.
His fervent quest turns into an intense struggle for survival and cunning as he attempts to deal with his own dark past and outwit a merciless and crafty opponent. The thrilling chase in “The Chaser” is sure to thrill viewers of “The Abandoned.” In both movies, the protagonist battles an unpredictable and hazardous enemy nearly by himself on behalf of a demonised community of people.
The Crimson Rivers (2000)
The French murder mystery “The Crimson Rivers,” directed by Mathieu Kassovitz, combines the investigations of two detectives: Pierre Niemans (Jean Reno) and Max Kerkerian. These two cops have different personalities, and they work on different cases until they come together. While Kerkerian looks into a desecrated burial in a distant Alpine village, Niemans is assigned to a strange murder at a prestigious institution. As their paths intersect, they learn of a dark truth that the isolated, exclusive town is hiding.
Their unwavering investigation reveals a network of mysterious rituals, genetic experiments, and long-kept secrets connected to a mysterious sect. In order to uncover the truth before it’s too late, the detectives must pool their abilities and instincts to take on warped adversaries and navigate a complex plot. Fans of “The Abandoned” will like “The Crimson Rivers” for its atmospheric and fascinating storytelling, which skillfully combines mystery, suspense, and an intriguing examination of the human psyche.
The Snowman (2017)
“The Snowman,” a terrifying movie about a serial killer, presents us to Michael Fassbender’s character, Harry Hole, a veteran investigator, and Katrine Bratt, his new colleague. A serial killer appears in their little Norwegian village when the first snow falls, dismembering women and building snowmen out of their body parts. Harry believes the murder was committed by a child with a deranged mentality, and soon after, he starts receiving messages from the person who killed the snowman. Similar to “The Abandoned,” the pursuit of the murderer in Tomas Alfredson’s film gets intensely personal when a bond between them is revealed. Fans of the former will find “The Snowman” to be just as spectacular in its imagery of blood on snow as it is a terrifyingly compelling story.
