The Forsaken (2001)

8% of critics liked it
(53 reviews)
45% of users liked it
(10,577 ratings)

Genre writer/director J.S. Cardone crafts his own history of the vampire legend in this teen horror outing that takes place primarily in desert locations, à la Near Dark (1987) and Vampires (1998). Sean (Kerr Smith) is traveling across the desert to attend his sister's wedding when he picks up an… More Genre writer/director J.S. Cardone crafts his own history of the vampire legend in this teen horror outing that takes place primarily in desert locations, à la Near Dark (1987) and Vampires (1998). Sean (Kerr Smith) is traveling across the desert to attend his sister's wedding when he picks up an unusual hitchhiker, Nick (Brendan Fehr). A vampire hunter, Nick soon has Sean embroiled in a battle between himself and a band of the undead creatures led by Kit (Johnathon Schaech). Caught in the middle of the supernatural shenanigans with Sean is Megan (Izabella Miko), who had been nearly turned into a vampire herself by Kit and his followers. Sean and Megan develop a romantic attachment, which encounters a further obstacle when Sean is infected with the vampire virus; only Kit's death can prevent Sean from permanently becoming one of the nosferatu. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: J.S. Cardone
Genres: Horror

In Theaters: Apr 27, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Sep 25, 2001
Studio: Screen Gems

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
An unoriginal, but occasionally pungent little horror flick.
Wesley Morris, San Francisco Chronicle
A wearying desert-bound mess of exposed flesh, horrendous editing, retrograde effects and a grade-Z story.
Bruce Fretts, Entertainment Weekly
Startlingly amateurish.
Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune
A fitting title, it seems that almost everything in this film is either forsaken or just plain neglected, including plot, characters and logic.
Kristy Martin, Mr. Showbiz
Uses its WB pretty boys as a lure -- but the only ones biting are the laughable bloodsuckers of the title.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
As hard as it tries, this film is no Near Dark -- not nearly.
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
A rare horror film in which the heroes are better drawn than the monsters, this trips up because Schaech doesn't cut it as a master fiend and the car chases distract from the dread.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
It's not a scary movie, it's a vampire movie. And in reality, it's kind of a bad vampire movie.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
This one got a little redundant about halfway through.
, Time Out
The writer/director then squanders his wayward energies on repetitive, ham-fisted action and boring violence.
Michael Dequina, Film Threat
As a horror film, it's not scary nor suspenseful; and as an action picture, it's not terribly exciting, if at all.
Paul Salfen, Supercala.com
Bood-sucking vampires prey on teen TV stars. Never seen that one before...
Dwayne E. Leslie, Boxoffice Magazine
The only true forsaken are the disillusioned patrons seeking a good vampire movie.
Nathaniel Rogers, Film Experience
Near Dark, the last great 'vampires-in-the-desert' flick is blasphemed over and over again. If you're thinking of seeing this, don't.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Cinematic junk food.
Jorge Avila Andrade, Moviola
Se puede ver solamente si se es fanático del género o si se asiste al cine con ganas de dejar las neuronas en la entrada por un par de horas.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

The Forsaken has got to be the best vampire flick since 1987's The Lost Boys. The film oozes of sexuality that made The Lost Boys such a great film. The Forsaken takes elements from a few classic vampire films, and combines them into one entertaining horror yarn. Though not… More
The Forsaken has got to be the best vampire flick since 1987's The Lost Boys. The film oozes of sexuality that made The Lost Boys such a great film. The Forsaken takes elements from a few classic vampire films, and combines them into one entertaining horror yarn. Though not original and lacking in serious talent, The Forsaken is a notch above recent vampire films such as Blade. Whats so great about this film is that it brings back all the elements of what made a vampire film so good. Flawed of course, but very entertaining, The Forsaken is one iof the better vampire films of recent memory. Combining elements of road movies such as The Hitcher with Near Dark, director J.S Cardone does a fairly good job at crafting a mildly scary horror film. The Forsaken can be seen as almost a return to form in the vampire genre because at this point in horror, vampire films had lost their touch, the traditional elements such as using a wooden stake through the heart, garlic and holy water. We had vampires that could walk through sunlight. All do respect, but wtf? Vampires are night creatures. They don't sparkle or walk through sunlight and live, they burn to death. The Forsaken embraces classic vampire lore with a modern day feel and the film is faithful to a true vampire film. Take it as you will, but considering the whole Twilight craze a few years after this film was released, at least we have a film like this to remind us that vampires were truly terrifying and NOT something to be twisted and manufactured to teenage girls. The Forsaken is a very good film and before one dismisses it, you should at least give this film a chance.
Dean !

A fairly decent, low budget, Vampire road B movie. Quite a combination, gory at times, with a young cast two of which are from the first Final destination film. It's a bit silly at times, why are vampires traveling around the dessert in an old Dodge charger? However it's… More
A fairly decent, low budget, Vampire road B movie. Quite a combination, gory at times, with a young cast two of which are from the first Final destination film. It's a bit silly at times, why are vampires traveling around the dessert in an old Dodge charger? However it's quite enjoyable if you don't think about it too much and it fairs better than most films of this budget. One for Vamp and low budget horror fans.
Dean M

Grimy, brutal, and awash with stage blood, the vampire film is relentlessly unpleasant.
_kelly .

One of my favorite indie vampire flicks ever. Combines road movie and a vampire pack on the hunt, and I don't mind the protagonists' corny buddy scenes tacked in because the vampires are so cool and hard in comparison. Definitely worth a watch if you just want an… More
One of my favorite indie vampire flicks ever. Combines road movie and a vampire pack on the hunt, and I don't mind the protagonists' corny buddy scenes tacked in because the vampires are so cool and hard in comparison. Definitely worth a watch if you just want an entertaining horror flick.
Emily A

This movie is rubbish, and I know it's rubbish, but I can't stop watching it. You know how you can hate a good movie because it has an actor you hate in it? This is the opposite situation. I love Jonathan Schaech as the villain and I'm willing to sit through this… More
This movie is rubbish, and I know it's rubbish, but I can't stop watching it. You know how you can hate a good movie because it has an actor you hate in it? This is the opposite situation. I love Jonathan Schaech as the villain and I'm willing to sit through this slightly repetitive and momentarily preachy rubbish to see him. I also kind of liked Brendan Fehr in this. I should start a support group for people who can't stop watching J.S. Cordone's atrocious movies. Respect my addiction!
Antony S

Largely forgettable cheap n' cheesy 90s action horror. The Forsaken mines the same territory as Near Dark, treating bloodsuckers as a special brand of outlaws. Most mythology is cast to the wind, perhaps to maintain the action momentum for its (largely immature) audience. Acted… More
Largely forgettable cheap n' cheesy 90s action horror. The Forsaken mines the same territory as Near Dark, treating bloodsuckers as a special brand of outlaws. Most mythology is cast to the wind, perhaps to maintain the action momentum for its (largely immature) audience. Acted as well as one could expect from a no-name cast with minimal budget, The Forsaken is watchable, but nothing in comparison to, say, From Dusk Till Dawn.
Yinalí R

Seriously? Is this seriously a movie? Really?
Chosen 7

A few months ago I watched it after years of not seeing it, it wasn't nearly as good as the first time I watched it but still not bad. The lead villain made it entertaining.
Adam M

Not bad vampire movie. A young man is driving a new car through the desert on the way to a city for a client but meets a lonely man begging for a lift on the way. The man reluctantly agrees but its not long before things get weird as the pair come across a young girl in a roadside… More
Not bad vampire movie. A young man is driving a new car through the desert on the way to a city for a client but meets a lonely man begging for a lift on the way. The man reluctantly agrees but its not long before things get weird as the pair come across a young girl in a roadside diner who appears to be in distress.Its not long until the hitcher reveals his identity as a vampire hunter who is on the trail of a ruthless gang. This has some cool moments of horror and has a pretty good soundtrack. It's not great, but for a B-movie stuck in a long line of vampire films, this is actually pretty good for the most part.
Leo L

A favorite.
Chad R

Actually decent for a B Vamp flick - and the chick is hot