The Forgotten Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mom is told her kid never existed, then fights aliens to prove she’s not crazy, which somehow involves government conspiracies and lots of dramatic staring.

🍿 The Forgotten: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Mother’s Grief and Disappearing Memories

Telly Paretta is grieving the loss of her son, Sam, who supposedly died in a plane crash. However, as time passes, she begins to notice that all evidence of Sam’s existence is disappearing. Her husband and psychiatrist claim that Sam never existed, and that she is suffering from delusions due to a past miscarriage. Telly refuses to believe them and becomes increasingly desperate to prove her son’s reality.

Seeking the Truth with Ash

Telly seeks out Ash Correll, another parent who supposedly lost a child on the same plane. Initially, Ash denies having a daughter, but Telly convinces him that his memories have also been altered. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to uncover the truth behind their missing children. Their investigation leads them to believe that a powerful force is responsible for erasing their memories and the existence of their children.

Conspiracy and Unexplained Phenomena

As Telly and Ash dig deeper, they encounter government agents and strange occurrences that defy explanation. They discover that the children were not victims of a plane crash, but were subjects of an experiment. Detective Ann Pope, initially skeptical, joins their cause after witnessing a supernatural event. However, she is quickly eliminated, showing the lengths the experimenters will go to.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Telly Paretta (Julianne Moore): A grieving mother determined to prove the existence of her son when everyone else claims he never existed.
• Ash Correll (Dominic West): An ex-hockey player and grieving father who initially denies his daughter’s existence but later helps Telly uncover the truth.
• Dr. Jack Munce (Gary Sinise): Telly’s psychiatrist who initially tries to convince her that her memories of her son are delusional.
• Ann Pope (Alfre Woodard): An NYC cop who initially investigates Telly, but then becomes convinced of the conspiracy and tries to help.
• Jim (Anthony Edwards): Telly’s husband who claims they never had a son and encourages her to accept this reality.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Telly Paretta: “They took our children.” – Telly says this repeatedly as she tries to convince others that her son and other children have been taken.
• Telly Paretta: “I know he existed!” – Telly exclaims this in desperation when confronted with the denial of her son’s existence.
• Ash Correll: “I’m having a National Enquirer moment.” – Ash says this in disbelief as Telly suggests that their children were abducted.
• A Friendly Man: “The experiment is not about the children. It is about you. About whether or not we can break the bond.” – The alien reveals the true purpose of their actions: to study the parent-child bond.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $42,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $67,133,509
• Worldwide Gross: $117,592,831

💥 The Forgotten Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so ‘The Forgotten’ started off really strong, pulling me in with this mystery of a mother losing her son and then *everyone* telling her he never existed. Julianne Moore killed it, making you feel her desperation and confusion. But then…aliens? I was so into the psychological thriller aspect, and then it just went off the rails. I was disappointed by the last half of the movie but overall it was still a good movie and I would recommend it.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of psychological thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in stories about memory and reality”
  • “People who enjoy sci-fi mysteries with a touch of the X-Files”
  • “Julianne Moore fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suggestive Themes”
  • “Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence/Terror”
  • “Some Language”
  • “Disturbing Images”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “While Julianne Moore delivers a strong performance, ‘The Forgotten’ suffers from a convoluted plot that veers into implausible science fiction, ultimately failing to deliver on its initial suspenseful premise.
• Variety: “Joseph Ruben directs a good thriller in switching the usual device of amnesia around. Julianne Moore is excellent in it and has great supporting cast with Alfre Woodard, Gary Sinise, Anthony Edwards and Dominic West.
• Entertainment Weekly: “The script is too implausible as the screenplay lurches unevenly from stark realism to raving lunacy. What could have been a superior sci-fi offering ultimately shows itself to be too intellectually lazy to face up to the challenges of its own narrative.

Audience Reactions

The initial mystery and Julianne Moore’s performance are highly praised.: Many viewers appreciated the suspenseful setup and Moore’s acting, but were ultimately let down by the shift into science fiction elements.

Overall Consensus: A suspenseful thriller with a strong lead performance that ultimately falters due to its shift into implausible science fiction territory.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film features two different endings: a theatrical release version and an alternate version included on the DVD.”
• “The graffiti on the wall after Julianne Moore runs through the grocery store is the logo of Revolution Studios, which produced the film.”
• “The movie explores themes of memory, grief, and the strength of maternal bonds, blending elements of psychological thriller and science fiction.”
• “Director Joseph Ruben is known for thrillers with deceptive characters, a recurring theme in his filmography.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Forgotten?

The Forgotten is available for purchase or rental on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for cable and streaming options. Be sure to compare prices across platforms to find the best deal. Consider purchasing the DVD for access to the alternate ending, which some viewers prefer.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Forgotten, you might like these similar films:

• Dark City (1998): Features aliens altering reality and memories, exploring similar themes of identity and manipulated existence.
• The Sixth Sense (1999): A psychological thriller with a twist ending, leaving the audience questioning the main character’s perception of reality.
• The Mothman Prophecies (2002): Deals with unexplained phenomena and a protagonist’s struggle to understand a reality beyond human comprehension, creating a similar sense of unease.
• Arrival (2016): A more modern take on alien contact, exploring themes of memory, perception, and the nature of reality through a unique narrative lens.

🛒 The Forgotten Related Products

• The Forgotten [Blu-ray]: Own the movie on Blu-ray to experience Julianne Moore’s captivating performance and the film’s suspenseful atmosphere in high definition. A must-have for collectors and fans of psychological thrillers.
• X-Files Complete Series [Blu-ray]: The X-Files series, exploring similar themes of conspiracy and the unknown, offers a deeper dive into paranormal investigations. An excellent companion piece for those intrigued by the mysteries in ‘The Forgotten’.
• Dark City [Blu-ray]: This sci-fi noir explores themes of memory manipulation and altered reality, providing a thought-provoking experience akin to the psychological struggles in The Forgotten. Blu-ray edition includes extras for deeper insights.
• Julianne Moore: A Biography: Explore the life and career of Julianne Moore, diving into her diverse filmography and the behind-the-scenes stories of her most memorable performances. A great way to appreciate her talent and commitment to her craft.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Forgotten features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Something Worth Fighting For” – performed by Oren Lavie
• “The Forgotten Main Title” – performed by James Horner

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Best Mystery Thriller You’ve Probably Forgotten

Ever feel like you’ve missed a hidden gem? This video dives into a mystery thriller that the creator thinks deserves way more love. Honestly, after watching this, I’m convinced it’s time for a rewatch!

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