Retro Film Review: The Forgotten (2004)

Box-office slumps in North America could be attributed, among other factors, to audiences growing weary of the unfulfilled promises made in Hollywood trailers that often fail to materialise in the actual feature films. One such unmet expectation is found in The Forgotten, a 2004 thriller directed by Joseph Ruben.

The protagonist of this film is Telly Parretta (portrayed by Julianne Moore), a New York woman still mourning her son Sam (played by Christopher Kovaleski) who perished in a plane crash a year prior. Her husband Jim (portrayed by Anthony Edwards) and psychotherapist Dr. Jack Munce (played by Gary Sinise) endeavour to support her during this challenging period. As time passes, Telly begins to observe peculiar occurrences - Sam's photographs vanish from family albums, and when questioned, Jim asserts they never had a child and that her son was a figment of her imagination. Telly's investigation reveals no evidence of the plane crash in the media, but Ash Correll (portrayed by Dominic West), a hockey player who also lost a child, may hold the key to whether Telly is grappling with madness or something more sinister.

While Gerald Di Pego's script wasn't groundbreaking, it provided a solid foundation for what was intended to be a gripping and enigmatic thriller where both the audience and the protagonist must navigate varying perceptions of reality. Joseph Ruben demonstrated his directorial prowess, and Julianne Moore was supported by a talented ensemble of character actors. Regrettably, Di Pego struggled to sustain tension throughout the script, opting early on to strip away any sense of mystery. The resolution to the protagonist's and audience's dilemmas is handed to them on a silver platter, leading to a safe, predictable, and lacklustre plot with an unsatisfying and anticlimactic conclusion that may leave many viewers feeling shortchanged. Few films are as aptly titled as The Forgotten.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)

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