Review of Chained (2012) by Caesar M — 11 Oct 2012

Chained is an example of a movie that doesn't know what it wants to be. It tries to be a horror movie and physiological drama while doing none of them to much success.

Chained follows Bob, a cab-driving serial killer who stalks his prey on the city streets alongside his reluctant protegee Tim, who must make a life or death choice between following in Bob's footsteps or breaking free from his captor. Let me tell you this is all that happens in the movie with a completely unnecessary last minute twist that didn't work. At times the movie does create some creepy atmosphere and it's hard to watch a kid in such a terrible life style. Which becomes a problem when that kid grows up to be a teenager. This makes you question why didn't this character attempt to escape from his captor after his first attempt. The plot does have it moments, but scenes are drawn out. Diving into the captor past was interesting and wondering if his captive would become like him was what kept me watching. For a film that has allot of women being killed it didn't get across an unsettling feeling. Mostly due to the lack of any blood and gore. The acting was pretty good, but these actor only stick to an handful of emotional range from sadistic, depress, angry, and fearful. Without much room for these actors to express themselves their performances do not have much effect on us. The cinematography is very good, but it solely taking place in one dirty and dull looking house which becomes tiring to see after the the thirty minute mark. Chained did have some interesting ideas and the premise had potential to explore much more. Though what you'll ultimately get is a movie that keeps switching from a horror to a physiological drama without satisfactory from any of them.

Chained has some interesting ideas that don't work like they could have. It potential to become something good, but it's largely wasted on ideas that never come full circle.