‘Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House’ Prime Video Series Review - Disturbing But Well-Made

I always feel that watching a story is one thing, but knowing that it’s a true crime is another thing. And once I get to know it’s a true plot, it does creep me out a bit. When this documentary begins, we see a beautiful mansion in a good neighborhood. It's difficult to make out that a wealthy neighborhood and a mansion like that is holding dark secrets. Right at the start, we see a journalist’s curiosity. He sees a property, and then he notices a mysterious woman peering through the house. And then, even though we have a question, who is she? Why is she there? Slowly, the horror unfolds, and we are told that the woman is Margarida Bonetti, an heiress whose life is shrouded in mystery in São Paulo.  Through interviews and footage, the audience is introduced to the scene of the crime. In Bonetti’s case, a domestic help was kept captive in the house and was also subjected to abuse, mental and physical, and kept under inhumane conditions.

We also witness the multiple rumors about Bonetti and her past.  It is through journalist Chico Felitti’s robust investigations that the truth comes out and is presented to us. Even the victim’s voice can be heard in the series as she takes us through the torture she was subjected to. Things become unimaginable and unbelievable at the same time. It is hard to believe that such a thing took place, but it did. FBI and other experts also step into the docuseries to share their findings about the plot.

Overall, the series is a good watch. But like I always warn, if you aren’t into crime thrillers or documentaries, this can become a very disturbing watch for you. It will linger in your mind even after the credits roll, and you will be left wondering what exactly happened and why. The archival footage is equally disturbing and haunting to watch. One must watch at one's own risk. It can creep you out to a great extent.  So yes, I will not deny that indeed it is disturbing to watch, and you need to be very brave if you wish to watch.

However, if these things excite you, I would highly recommend watching the series. It goes into the depths of the events and gives us a clear picture of everything. Even the transitions between the episodes are smooth and have a lot of clarity. You have to appreciate Chico Felitti’s curiosity that led to the unraveling of events and his investigative mind. If it wasn’t for him, no one would have ever come to know the victim’s plot/side of the story.  It is a good, quick watch for the weekend with a great pacing that won't keep you bored one bit.

Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times