Review of Prisoners (2013) by Kamal H — 28 Jun 2015

Prisoners is ultimately a question to the audience. Whether it be ethical or emotional, how far are you willing to go to protect the ones you love? There is a lot of depth and complexity to be found. The story here is the aftermath of a father dealing with loss and a troubled cop working to find two little girls.

Developing onto that is the characters' sense of morality, driven by fear and desperation, that give the film much of its substance. It's paced slowly, letting each scene breathe with both finesse in its cinematography and dreadfulness in its context.

It has this raw, convincing, and haunting feel about it that's constantly gripping. Director Denis Villeneuve knows exactly how frame a shot to absorb the audience in countless tense and disturbing scenes.

Much of this tension is delivered through the incredible talent of the actors. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal specifically stand out as they portray almost real characters with real problems and emotions.

The dialogue is expressive and meaningful enough to elevate the drama to a masterful level. What separates this from most other suspenseful thrillers is how complex, smart, and dynamic the story is. What you thought you were walking into isn't the same film when you walk out.

It leaves a relentlessly powerful impact, both in thought and feeling.