Land of Smiles

2016, 95 minutes

Abby is lured through the third world paradise of Thailand searching for her kidnapped best friend and unknowingly she becomes the centerpiece of a sociopathic filmmakers obsession.

Abby, is at an early 20’s crossroads in her life. She believes it’s time to grow up and take her life more seriously. So she abandons her backpacking plans with her best friend and stays home to be with her new boyfriend. A boyfriend who only days later she finds in bed with another woman. In a spontaneous moment of heart-broken panic, Abby finds herself on a plane heading to Thailand to try and repair her fractured friendship with her best friend, Penny. Once in Thailand, Abby meets Ben, a documentary filmmaker, and his yogic-hip sidekick, Jewel. As Abby awaits response from Penny — Ben and Jewel convince Abby to join them on a trip to an island paradise. Abby, Ben, and Jewel are happily thrust into a world of beautiful beaches, young adult freedom, and the vibrant backpacking party culture. An exciting new world that comes crashing down around Abby when she finally receives contact from Penny in the form of a video. The Video: Penny is in a dungeon; she’s been tied to a chair and gagged; she’s seemingly terrified; and a madman in a clown mask gives Abby her first set of instructions, “Keep having fun with your new friends.” What is a terrifying visual to Abby, is an amusing game to Ben. He shows Abby similar videos online of loved ones being terrorized and tortured. Staged plots to shock the receiver of the video into remembering what is most important in their life. The exact message Penny was trying to deliver to Abby before she left her behind. “To Find The Truth You Must Play Along.” What ensues is a thrill-ride adventure through the picturesque beaches, tiny villages, and radiant green jungles of Thailand. Abby, Ben, and Jewel are led on a game of hide and seek in which Penny is used as bait to keep them hunting. A hunt that unbeknownst to them, is being filmed along the way.

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