Review of Prisoners (2013) by Avant S — 06 Apr 2016

A grimly dark thriller that's ostensibly about the abduction of two young girls. In a chilling opening sequence they disappear after a Thanksgiving dinner from their utterly normal suburban street.

Ultimately, the film is about what's legitimate in a civilised society. Hugh Jackman is fantastic as Keller Dover, the father of one of the girls, who very quickly takes the law into his own hands, and will stop at seemingly nothing, acting purely on hunches and his own prejudices.

My concern about the film's own prejudices is that he's portrayed mostly as the protagonist, the character with all the agency, whereas Terrence Howard (his friend and father of the other missing girl) is conflicted, struck with deference to the law and the authorities, rendered helpless by liberal angst and weak where Keller is strong and decisive. The film also renders their wives mostly useless. Hmmm...

Between them and the horror of their missing children is Jake Gyllenhaal, excellent in one of his 'quiet' performances.

It's true that there's little triumphalism on display in the finale, there's no great redemption or satisfaction to be had from Keller's vigilante approach.

This is a film of no little skill - the cinematography and direction is terrific, and it's shot through with unease. But it does seem to be taking itself VERY seriously, and this grim intensity is pretty wearing by the end.