Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Prisoners hit no. 1 at the box office this weekend. Starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, this dark thriller is sure grip and excite the senses.
The story takes place over Thanksgiving when Keller Dover’s (Jackman) friends and family get together to share a night of laughter and relaxation. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts from one of merriment to one of panic.
One minute Dover’s daughter and her friend are outside playing, and the next, they are gone.
Slowly, we see Jackman’s character begin to unravel at the seams. Stricken with worry and grief over the abduction of his daughter, Dover begins his gradual descent into obsessive paranoia. It is not long before he decides to take matters into his own hands. The question is, how far will he go?
Following Dover is Gyllenhaal’s character, Detective Loki, whose goal in finding the kidnapped pair of girls is more professional than personal. Loki’s characters acts as a foil to Dover. He is the constant voice of reason in Dover’s ear, and thus is the audience’s anchor throughout the entire film.
Jackman and Gyllenhaal are a dynamic duo in Prisoners. They convey the most basic of human instincts with a scary, dramatic flare that only seasoned actors can bring to the table. Plus, their good looks don’t hurt either!
Basically, Prisoners is a grittier version of Taken but less hokey and with better character development. What makes this particular film especially scary is that it unpacks a very harsh truth. Real monsters do exist, just not in your closet or under you bed. And, our protagonist will soon find out that not everyone or everything is as it seems. If you are in the mood for a suspenseful whodunit, then look no further than Prisoners.
Prisoners is rated R and contains graphic violence and profanity.