Abduct: Where Aliens Meet Akvavit

Let’s talk about “Abduct”—ya know, that Sci-Fi flick that feels like it’s trying to blend “The X-Files” with a Danny Boyle twist. First off, we’ve got Taylor Lautner, yes that Twilight wolf lad, tackling an alien conspiracy. Who woulda thought it’d be the werewolf investigating UFOs with more angst than a teenager in a rock band? And it’s directed by I think it was Iain Softley, which feels like he’s trying his hand at something outside his usual palette.

Now, there’s somethin’ about alien abduction stories that reminds me of midsummer nights in Dalarna. My cousin Gunnar swore he saw UFOs once, but we all knew it was the akvavit talking. There’s a similar vibe here. Except, the suspense sometimes feels as uneven as a poorly baked kladdkaka.

The movie’s pacing is a bit like Swedish summer weather—sometimes brilliant, sometimes it makes you wonder if it’ll ever end. I’m all for complex plots, but “Abduct” had me scratching my head more than once. Like, why is Gillian Anderson here, again, chasing extraterrestrials? Someone just couldn’t leave Scully behind, I guess.

One thing I appreciated is the undertone of loneliness that cuts through the storyline, which I think echoes our own modern oh-so-busy society, where you can be always connected but still feel alien (pun intended) to those around ya.

Honestly, there’s quite an interesting sensory layer to the cinematography. Those dark, misty blues and deep blacks pull ya right into the eeriness of it all. You almost feel the chill run down your spine. But, sometimes stories about missing folks chasing lights in the sky might just be more engaging if you’ve had a good fika first.

So, would I say it’s worth a watch? Maybe. But eh, it’s not exactly the kind of film I’d rush back to. More like something you’d watch on a rainy Tuesday evening. Yet, there’s charm—even if it sometimes feels like ordering herring and getting surströmming instead.

Check the trailer below