MovieChat Forums > Absentia (2013) Discussion > Question (spoilers)

Question (spoilers)

posted 11 years ago by justin-243
10 replies | jump to latest

I recognize, like any film, this is somewhat interpretative, but just so I understand this correctly, all the visions of Tricia's evil dead husband she was experiencing in the first half of the film had nothing to do with the actual point of the film? In the end, the actual point was a creature that although supernatural, had no penetration into someone's dreams, and therefore those hallucinations Tricia had were wholly coincidental? Honestly, that's kinda weak. I liked when the film went in a different direction, but to not tie the first half with the second seems like poor writing. Thoughts?

[–] masterofallgoons 11 years ago

Yeah I agree. I think those 'visions' were entirely unnecessary. The basic premise was compelling enough. If they didn't have anything to do with the actual drive of the story they didn't belong there. It just sort of felt like they included it to solidify it as a horror movie, where otherwise it would have been a pretty interesting drama and then shifted into a horror movie in the second or third act. Which would have been much better.

[–] Zando777 11 years ago

They were just illustrating alternative possibilities. I had no problem with this.

[–] jayt_26 11 years ago

Alternative possibilities as well as giving depth to their grieving process. Loved it.

[–] BlackDog123 10 years ago

I actually thought it was a nice touch - actually showing how deeply guilty and conflicted she felt about moving on. I also enjoyed the payoff when her husband actually IS standing there, and the cop sees him but she doesn't believe it then faints.

They're coming to get you, Barbara!

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BlackDog123 10 years ago

You know, now that you mention it, I remember him saying that - do you think he had any control over coming back? I always felt like it was completely out of his hands and due to the "trade," and she was projecting that negativity onto him. What do you think?

They're coming to get you, Barbara!

[–] ccissee 10 years ago

I thought that the visions were explained because any time someone spoke to an abductee, he said "you can see me?" That being said, the "I know what you did" had to have sprung from guilt, since when Daniel did return, he didn't know what she had done.
Because Callie "traded," I understand why Daniel returned. But if the son kept trying to trade (my explanation for the robberies & dog in the bag), why was his father held so much longer and returned dead? And then she must not have called "no backsies" or whatever, because why did the troll take Daniel back?
I'm trying to make sense of it, but as soon as I tie up one thread, another baffles me.

[–] misstam19 9 years ago

Agreed. I feel like the abducted could see
People but never be seen... Which is why he said you can see me?

[–] velvetkevorkian610 9 years ago

Really was a big waste of time in my opinion. The pacing in this movie was pretty bad. And the ending was just awful. The whole movie presented a compelling story that was almost completely ignored in favor of these random hallucinations...

It's not over, everybody betrayed me! I'm fed up with this world!

[–] king_of_bob 9 years ago

I recognize, like any film, this is somewhat interpretative, but just so I understand this correctly, all the visions of Tricia's evil dead husband she was experiencing in the first half of the film had nothing to do with the actual point of the film?

That's right. Like we were told, it was her own mind playing tricks on her.

In the end, the actual point was a creature that although supernatural, had no penetration into someone's dreams, and therefore those hallucinations Tricia had were wholly coincidental? Honestly, that's kinda weak. I liked when the film went in a different direction, but to not tie the first half with the second seems like poor writing. Thoughts?

Actually it isn't weak. It gives her character another reason to disbelieve the fantastical explanation her sister tries to give her. She may have been more receptive if she hadn't been hallucinating herself.

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