Abandon all hope, ye who enter the theatre expecting writer-director Stephen Gaghan's newest movie to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Gaghan, who won an Oscar for writing the screenplay of "Traffic" and makes his directorial debut with "Abandon," continually builds upon his storyline with a mishmosh of meaningless scenes and flashbacks. "Abandon" is the story of an ambitious college senior, Katie Burke (Katie Holmes of TV's "Dawson's Creek"), who is desperately trying to finish her thesis and still enjoy the last months of college with her friends. She seems to have it all under control, spending her evenings in the library until her friends drag her out to party and drink.

She shines at her job interview, never once flinching when asked questions and never afraid to be herself. Her determined attitude and flair are apparent to both the audience and the job interviewers.

Suddenly, though, everything seems to fall apart when a handsome policeman (Benjamin Bratt of "Traffic") strolls into her life inquiring about the disappearance of her wealthy boyfriend, Embry Larkin (Charlie Hunnam of TV's "Queer As Folk"), who went missing two years before. Embry was Katie's first true love, and it appeared that just as quickly as he swept her off her feet he dropped her down and left her. She has not had a boyfriend since Embry, and continually mourns his absence.

Soon after the policeman's inquiry, and just as Katie is finally getting over her lost love, it seems that Embry is back to haunt her all over again. He begins appearing around campus and in her dreams. He is back to reclaim his hold over her life, much to her distress.

At first, she tries to follow him and find out where he has been all this time, but soon their encounters become frightening and intense. His overpowering obsession is harming Katie, and she can no longer sleep, work on her thesis or party with her friends without having the anxious feeling that Embry is watching her.

Holmes has an innocence and charm about her that fits perfectly in the role of Katie Burke. She can comfortably play the role of a college student, and it seems sad to say that her acting ability may have been a saving grace of the movie. Maybe it is time for her to begin taking on more mature roles instead of continually being typecast as the innocent teenager.

Bratt is also typecast as a rugged cop who has just come back from the edge after being a struggling alcoholic. He possesses such magnetism that the audience, as well as the college students, in the movie cannot help but be drawn to him.

In fact, "Abandon" possesses such a strong supporting cast as well that it is a shame the movie was not better written and directed. "Abandon" takes the audience through an endless buildup of scenes and story lines that seem to drag on forever.

Gaghan's directorial debut is not a promising one, as many of the more intense scenes have potential, but were not shot well and the suspense drags on too long until the audience just gives up hope that anything scary will ever happen. There was one particularly awful scene that takes place at a college party, and the endless flashing lights and camera angles make the audience nauseous and hopeful that it will soon end.

There is good news, however. For those who did not either fall asleep or get up and leave in the middle of the movie, the ending may just be worth the wait. Although slightly predictable, the last few scenes allow the audience to catch one last glimpse of "Abandon"'s potential. Although the ending was not enough to save the movie, it may just have been enough to make the audience feel that the last 99 minutes was not a complete waste of time.