Watch The Abduction Club

The Abduction Club is an 18th century period piece set in Ireland revolving around the fictional "Abduction Club", a secret society for young wealthy men who kidnap eligible women as a means of courtship. The movie begins with the Club's latest triumph, the abduction of Catherine Kennedy, who is to marry the wealthy and powerful Sir Lukas Merriman. The Club's leader, James Strang, sees this as his greatest success yet, but his brother Christopher, who has recently been initiated into the Club, is disillusioned by the whole affair.

Christopher goes on to meet Anne Kennedy, Catherine's sister, who blames the abduction on the social norms of the time that meant she was unable to marry for love. Despite being aware of her low social status, Christopher falls for Anne and decides to leave the Abduction Club. But in doing so, he goes against the Club's strict rules and brings upon him the wrath of James.

The rest of the movie follows the aftermath of Christopher's decision and how it affects him, Anne and the rest of the Abduction Club. Christopher tries to woo Anne despite her status as an unsuitable match for him, while James struggles to keep the Club together as it begins to crumble under the pressure of outside forces.

One interesting aspect of the movie is the way in which it portrays the role of women in 18th century Ireland. The women in the movie are all depicted as intelligent and independent despite being limited by social norms of the time. Catherine, who is initially portrayed as a "damsel in distress" type of character, later proves to be a strong and formidable character who can hold her own against the men.

The movie also touches upon themes such as classism and the rigid social hierarchy of the time in which the story is set. The Abduction Club is seen as a way to subvert the social norms of the time, but in doing so, it also highlights the hypocrisy of the wealthy classes who were able to act outside of the law.

The cinematography and costumes in the movie are also noteworthy. The scenes are beautifully shot and the costumes are intricately detailed, adding to the overall authenticity of the period.

Overall, The Abduction Club is an interesting period piece that offers a refreshing take on courtship and gender roles in 18th century Ireland. While it may not be the most groundbreaking or original movie out there, it is well-acted and visually stunning, making it a movie worth watching for anyone interested in historical dramas.

The Abduction Club is a 2002 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.