Abandoned
WRITTEN BY :
Kush Gupta & Pourush Turel
DIRECTED BY :
Kush Gupta
About the Film
In the aftermath of a global pandemic and civil war, a young mother awakens from a coma to find herself trapped on an ‘Abandoned’ Pacific island. Hunted by vengeful locals and natives, she must join forces with a group of stranded outsiders to escape—before the island consumes them.
Episodic Synopsis
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After nine months in a coma, Sanya wakes to a haunting reality: the once-vibrant island of Honu'atu is desolate, with only the indigenous Lanihasi tribe hunting down survivors. Alone and disoriented, she battles for survival in this hostile new world. Just as hope begins to slip away, she encounters a mysterious fellow survivor who leads her to a hidden enclave of abandoned individuals clinging to life.
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Sanya finds herself as an unexpected beacon of hope when a Syrian father begs for help as his 12-year-old daughter falls gravely ill. Divided by fear and desperation, the group debates her fate—some pushing to throw her in the pit, others risking their lives to raid rebel-held territory for medicine. On their dangerous journey, they encounter three new survivors but also draw the wrath of the Lanihasi leader, whose fiery vengeance threatens to consume them all.
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Grief and mistrust grip the camp after the loss of one member and the mysterious disappearance of another. With rations critically low, the arrival of three new survivors only heightens the tension. On a desperate hunt for food, the group uncovers the tragic truth behind the Lanihasi’s fury and the devastating impact of the C3-17 virus on Honu'atu. While the others resign themselves to a grim future on the island, Sanya holds on—until Odei's unexpected return brings a spark of hope.
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Odei returns with an unthinkable claim—his sister is alive, and there’s a boat that could get them off Honu'atu. As the group scrambles to repair it and raid the town for supplies, tensions reach a breaking point. Secrets unravel, tempers flare, and just as hope sparks celebration, chaos erupts - Lucho threatens to expose his affair with Mei, while the Lanihasi people mourn as Kaia’s only brother clings to life. Just as the abandoned survivors dare to celebrate, a drunken Lucho shatters the fragile peace with a reckless act. And when the plan seems unstoppable, the unthinkable happens—Sanya is kidnapped.
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With Sanya missing, Odei embarks on a daring mission to find her. Trapped in the Lanihasi camp, Sanya is offered an impossible choice—help save a life or lose her own. There, she uncovers a shocking truth: Odei’s lost sister, Nala, is alive. As tensions rise and the tribe demands blood, a desperate rescue unfolds. But escape comes at a devastating cost.
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As paranoia grips the camp, Cathy is thrown into the pit—suspected of carrying the deadly virus. With the boat nearly repaired, tensions explode when Sanya and Odei return, bringing not just his lost sister Nala, but a Lanihasi, Tiki, whose loyalty is now in question. Meanwhile, the tribe mourns their loss and vows brutal revenge, marching out to hunt down the remaining survivors. As secrets unravel and betrayals come to light, the group turns on itself—just as the real threat closes in.
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As betrayal shatters the camp, a deadly truth is exposed—pushing Lucho to his brutal fate. With their escape in sight, the survivors race to the beach, but the Lanihasi strike first, unleashing a violent showdown. Forced to fight or die, Sanya crosses a line she never imagined, while Kaia and Aeta realize the true enemy was among them all along. Blood is spilled, lives are lost, but a few make it onto the boat—only to face a chilling new reality. Adrift in the open ocean, they escape one nightmare, only to plunge into another.
Cast:
Jane - Lara Robinson
Kensington - Masa Yamaguchi
Cynthia - Holly Brisley
Walt - Michael Budd
All Cast & Crew
Film Details
Completed : 2024
Country of Origin : Australia
Screener Link : Enquire for screener
Genre : Survival Drama / Sci-fi
Directors Statement
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The pandemic of 2032 in our story may be fiction, but its echoes resonate with the world we live in today. When crisis hits, does humanity unite, or do we turn against one another? This is the question that drives The Abandoned..
At its core, this series is about isolation—not just the kind that leaves you stranded on an island, but the kind that divides societies, families, and individuals. We live in an era where people are more connected than ever, yet more divided than they’ve ever been. Through the eyes of Sanya, a mother fighting for her son in a world that has turned its back on her, we explore what it means to hold onto hope when all seems lost.
Visually, The Abandoned will be raw, immersive, and visceral. The jungle is not just a backdrop but a living, breathing force—both a sanctuary and a death trap. The vast emptiness of the abandoned island mirrors the emotional desolation of its characters. Every frame will be designed to pull the audience deeper into this forgotten world, making them feel every breath, every whisper of danger, and every moment of fleeting human connection. Similarly in future seasons we will explore other dynamic landscapes from deserts to ice capped mountains.
But beyond its intense survival narrative, The Abandoned is a global story. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt displaced, to anyone who has ever had to fight for survival—whether in a war zone, a refugee camp, or even within their own home. It asks us to confront our own biases, to question how we see "the other," and to consider how fragile our sense of civilization truly is.
This is why I believe in this series. It is thrilling, yet deeply human. It is a warning, yet also a story of hope. It reminds us that even in the darkest times, survival is not just about endurance—it’s about finding something worth living for. And in a time where the world is still healing, I believe The Abandoned will resonate with audiences across the globe.
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