Abandoned (2019 film)

Lore & Background

Simone (Beauty Gonzalez), a security guard and single mother, experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a robbery that resulted in the death of her colleagues. She works diligently to support her son, Rj (Seth Fedelin). After the incident, Simone is reassigned to guard a haunted and abandoned building. Strange occurrences soon begin during her shifts, causing her to relive the painful memories of the past, which in turn, adversely affects both her and her son.

Reader's Guide

Cast: Beauty Gonzalez as Simone, Seth Fedelin as Rj, Allan De Paz as Renante, Barbara Ruaro as Ciel, Nico Antonio as Sol, Matt Daclan as Nestor, Archi Adamos as Ruel, Iana Bernardez as Alice, Kenneth Paul Cruz as Marko, Rolando Inocencio as Simone's dad, Shermaine Santiago as Simone's mom. Production: Directed by Kip Oebanda, produced by Dreamscape Entertainment. It marks the first film project for Seth Fedelin, a former housemate of Pinoy Big Brother: Otso. Fedelin mentioned feeling nervous during the shooting but found motivation and support from his co-star and the director.

Narrative & Thematic Core

The story of Abandoned centers on Simone, a security guard navigating the dual burdens of single motherhood and unresolved trauma. After a violent robbery claims the lives of her coworkers, Simone is left grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder that haunts her every waking moment. Her primary drive becomes providing for her young son, Rj, and she throws herself into work with a quiet, relentless determination. The narrative takes a darker turn when Simone is reassigned to watch over a derelict, supposedly haunted building. What begins as a routine shift quickly spirals into a descent, as unexplained occurrences during her hours at the site force her to confront the very memories she has been trying to bury. The film's psychological horror is not merely about supernatural scares but about how trauma resurfaces in the most vulnerable of spaces, and how that internal turmoil ripples outward to endanger the child she is trying so hard to protect. The interplay between Simone's fractured past and the eerie present forms the emotional spine of the entire picture.

Cast & Ensemble

The ensemble of Abandoned is anchored by Beauty Gonzalez in the lead role of Simone, the trauma-burdened security guard whose emotional journey drives the entire narrative. Beside her, Seth Fedelin portrays Rj, her son, in what represents a pivotal early chapter in his acting career. Allan De Paz appears as Renante, while Barbara Ruaro takes on the role of Ciel. The supporting cast is rounded out by Nico Antonio as Sol, Matt Daclan as Nestor, and Archi Adamos as Ruel, each contributing to the world surrounding Simone's haunted assignment. Iana Bernardez plays Alice and Kenneth Paul Cruz appears as Marko, adding further layers to the interpersonal dynamics within the story. Simone's family background is fleshed out by Rolando Inocencio as her father and Shermaine Santiago as her mother, grounding the protagonist in a domestic context that deepens the stakes of her psychological unraveling. The breadth of the cast suggests a story that weaves multiple relationships and perspectives into its central horror premise, giving the film a textured human foundation beneath its supernatural elements.

Production & Direction

Abandoned was helmed by director Kip Oebanda, with production handled by Dreamscape Entertainment in partnership with Quantum Films. The project holds particular significance for young actor Seth Fedelin, as it marked his very first feature film appearance. Fedelin, who had previously gained public recognition as a housemate on the reality television program Pinoy Big Brother: Otso, transitioned from the pressures of a live broadcast environment to the structured world of professional filmmaking. He has spoken openly about feeling nervous during the shooting process, a natural response for someone stepping into a leading role for the first time. However, he credited both his co-star and the director with providing the encouragement and support he needed to settle into the character of Rj. The collaboration between Dreamscape Entertainment and Quantum Films as co-producers indicates a joint investment in bringing this psychological horror concept to screen, while Oebanda's direction shaped the tone and pacing of Simone's descent into trauma and fear. The production's emphasis on emotional authenticity over spectacle is evident in the way the cast's dynamics were cultivated on set.

Release & Distribution

This distribution choice placed the film squarely within the growing landscape of Philippine content available through online streaming services, making it accessible to viewers who preferred the convenience of on-demand viewing over traditional theatrical releases. As a psychological horror production, the film occupied a specific niche within the broader Philippine cinema of that period, blending the country's storytelling traditions with the atmospheric tension characteristic of the genre. The iWantTFC platform, associated with the country's television industry, provided a recognizable home for the project, lending it a degree of institutional visibility while still reaching a wide domestic audience. The timing of the late-August release positioned the film within the summer viewing season, a period when audiences often gravitate toward entertainment that combines suspense with emotional depth. For viewers tuning in, Abandoned offered a character-driven horror experience that prioritized psychological realism and maternal struggle over conventional jump-scare mechanics, setting it apart from more formulaic entries in the genre.

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