Review of The Captive (2014) by Quincytheodore — 22 May 2015
Exhaustingly disjointed narrative and clunky plot hamper the captivating premise. The Captive is a strange take on drama or thriller. It doesn't build up to intelligent conclusion or revelation as the movie gives some key point of the plot early, instead it's a merry-go-round of twisted perspectives and timelines. The movie certainly gives deeper look of the people affected by the heinous act, yet its shifting tone is exceedingly slow and the repetitive narrative feels needlessly cumbersome.
Story mainly follows Matthew (Ryan Reynolds) as he tragically lost his daughter. The movie spans over eight years and multiple perspectives. While this method can be alluring, it becomes overly tedious after a while. It is literally a circle of events that may seem disconnected, only to eventually be pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle though the movie gives the audience a random piece at a time.
Details from one scene might be crucial at later times, it's meant to be a Eureka moment when it finally comes together. However, the little suspense doesn't amount much and there is barely any major twist to be had. The way it jumps through characters and timeline might deter some viewer, especially when the movie just starts to build momentum then it jumps to another perspective at much different time altogether. Furthermore, the movie does this gimmick the entire time, occasionally with rehearsed scenes.
The theme itself is dauntingly personal. It's a delicate matter and the movie does deliver the premise without being overbearing. Acting from the lead, mostly Ryan Reynolds, Rosario Dawson as the police investigator and Alexia Fast as the daughter are pretty compelling. At times it showcases the psychology aspect in sophisticated manner, but as the movie reveals the child spent eight years in captivity in first act, it does negate some of the thrill from earlier timeline.
The Captive presents a sense of grueling entrapment, parts of it are not in the tediously cinematic way it's meant to be.
This review of The Captive (2014) was written by Quincytheodore on 22 May 2015.
The Captive has generally received mixed reviews.
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