Atlanta Review: "The Unwanted" (**½)

Hannah Fierman and Christen Orr star in "The Unwanted"

"The Unwanted"—written and directed by Bret Wood—is based on Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s graphic novella. The story follows Carmilla, a young woman who travels to a small town in an effort to uncover the mystery behind her mother’s disappearance. Carmilla meets, and soon falls in love with, a troubled local girl who lives with her over-protective father. While he holds the answers to Carmilla’s questions, he also hides some terrifying truths about her mother.

The lead characters, played by Christen Orr and Hannah Fierman, are both compelling enough. Neither, however, are able to save the weak script that keeps them from ever being fleshed out as real people. Creepy at times but hopelessly uneven, the film never grounds itself in any sort of believability due to its lack of focus or direction. The film loses more and more steam with each bizarre twist and turn.

With an interesting concept and an ending that is just as bat-shit crazy as it is unsatisfying, "The Unwanted," unfortunately, isn’t able to pack the punch that it wants to.

2.5 out of 5 stars.