Review of Kidnapped (2010) by Stefano L — 21 Aug 2011

As "home invasion" flicks go, there is nothing new with Kidnapped (unless you think subtitles are something new). The genre is rather played-out and only so much can happen in these films ...

and Kidnapped helps prove that point. A well-off family of three moves to the outskirts of a metropolitan area (which the daughter is displeased with); but before they can spend their first night in their new house, three hooded men burst into their home and create chaos.

Rounding up the family's debit cards, one masked robber takes the father to the local banks in order for him to get as much cash out of the ATMs as possible while the other two remain at the family house where things do NOT go smoothly.

The true purpose behind the invasion is never really made clear (was it seriously to visit ATMs in the vicinity?!?) and this is a problem. We never know why this family is targetted and/or what they have to offer that other families do not.

The situation at the house goes from bad to worse as the intelligent leader of the robbers must have been the one accompanying the father. The film begins tense enough; but it devolves into a grisly, gruesome mess .

.. and those with weak-stomachs should avoid this one. I'm not sure if everything that we see on screen was necessary ... or if most of it was included to shock (which it does). The acting in Kidnapped is believable and none of the family does a poor job.

The film is dark and bloody and it won't be for everyone. My problems with the Saw franchise and the Hostel flicks is that they are torture porn. Kidnapped begins as a plausible story that turns into a frightening scenario; but by film's end it resorted to torture for torture-sake (my definition of torture porn).

Kidnapped starts out like all kidnapping cases I guess ... but it unfortunately turns into the worst-case scenario for the viewer.