Anchor Bay Entertainment has secured the North American distribution rights to director Michael Feifer’s (Drifter: Henry Lee Lucas) Abandoned, starring the late Brittany Murphy. The low-budget thriller stars Murphy as a woman frantically trying to find her boyfriend after he disappears from a hospital during a routine procedure.

Perhaps anticipating a few raised eyebrows, Anchor Bay president Bill Clark spins the purchase this way:

Releasing this young actress’s last film is both an honor and bittersweet. It was important to Anchor Bay that the timing of this release be right, because we’re sensitive to such a tragic loss. However, we also recognize that Brittany’s fans will want to see her amazing work.

Abandoned is slated for a summer release and costars Dean Cain (“Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”), Peter Bogdanovich, Kristen Kerr (Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane),  and busty straight-to-DVD queen Mimi Rogers (Penny Dreadful).

Murphy was found dead on Dec. 20 in the bathroom of her Los Angeles home. The L.A. County Coroner concluded that the 32-year-old actress’ death was a result of “community acquired pneumonia,” iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug intoxication.

I'm going to haunt you tonight!