Before he hung up his werewolf claws, Taylor Lautner tried to become the next big action star. That attempt came in 2011 with Abduction, a thriller that paired the Twilight heartthrob with none other than Sigourney Weaver. The film didn't exactly set the world on fire, but it's about to find a new audience when it lands on free streaming next month.
Starting September 1, Abduction will be available to watch at no cost on Plex. That's a solid deal for fans of early-2010s action cheese or anyone curious to see Weaver in one of her more unusual roles. The movie also features a young Lily Collins, Jason Isaacs, and Alfred Molina, giving it a cast that's arguably better than the film itself.
A Flop That Found a Second Life
Directed by the late John Singleton, Abduction was the Oscar-nominated filmmaker's final feature before his passing in 2019. Sadly, it wasn't his finest hour. The movie holds a dismal 5% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences slightly kinder at 42%. One critic famously joked that the plot holes were so massive you could "squeeze Lautner's sex appeal through them." Ouch.
Despite the critical drubbing, Abduction has developed a cult following over the years, thanks in part to its nostalgic value and the star power of its leads. It's the kind of film that's perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon when you just want to switch off your brain and watch some chase sequences.
What's It About?
Lautner plays Nathan Harper, a typical teenager whose life is upended when he stumbles upon a photo of himself as a child on a missing persons website. Suddenly, he's on the run from mysterious assassins, with only a neighbor (Collins) and a no-nonsense CIA agent (Weaver) to help him unravel the truth about his identity.
It's a premise that screams mid-2000s action thriller, and Singleton directs it with a slick, if generic, style. The film also benefits from a supporting cast that includes Isaacs and Molina, who bring some gravitas to the proceedings.
Weaver's Busy Franchise Life
Weaver, of course, is no stranger to big franchises. From Alien to Avatar to Star Wars, she's been a fixture of blockbuster cinema for decades. Most recently, she appeared in The Mandalorian and Grogu, though that film underperformed at the box office. She's also set to join Prime Video's upcoming Tomb Raider series, starring Sophie Turner as Lara Croft, with Isaacs reuniting with her from Abduction.
If you're in the mood for a throwback thriller with a killer cast, Abduction is worth a look when it hits Plex. And if you're a fan of the genre, you might also enjoy our list of forgotten thrillers that still deliver chills.
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