The Captive [DVD + Digital]

It is a very intense movie but worth the watch.

Writer/director Atom Egoyan (Exotica, Ararat, The Sweet Hereafter, Chloe, Devil’s Knot) continues to puzzle viewers with his innate sense of ‘strange.’ Blending reality with its extremes of human response with bizarre alternatives that plead explanation, his films are visually stunning and psychologically mesmerizing.THE CAPTIVE falls victim to that perplexing problem of altering time frames without letting the viewer know the circumstances: an incident occurs and the relating of that incident is eroded by passing in and out of an eight year hiatus and polar realities that are confusing, but in the end, add to the suspense the story generates.The action takes place in Niagara – the US/Canadian border New York/Ontario – and one moment we are observing two youngsters, Cassandra (Peyton Kennedy) and Albert (Mark Gorodnitsky) ice skating, then the focus moves to the inside of pickup adorned with childhood trinkets and Matthew Lane (Ryan Reynolds) and daughter Cassandra stop for a pie at the request of the wife/mother Tina’s (Mireille Enos) phone call. Matthew leaves Cassandra in the truck and goes into the diner for the pie, and upon returning to the truck Cassandra is gone. The story begins, and told mostly after an eight year hiatus the machinations of investigation into Cassandra’s disappearance collide with Tina blaming Matthew for the loss of their daughter, authorities Nicole (Rosario Dawson) and Jeffrey (Scott Speedman), and gradually we learn that Cassandra (now Alexia Fast) has been trafficked to a ring and is under the control of Mika (Kevin Durand) who uses Cass to seduce other children via internet videos to being captured in the manner that she was abducted. The ring appears to be a variation of pedophilia: the atmosphere (including the drugged kidnapping of Nicole at a charity event) and the manifestations of the extent of the pedophiles actions make the story even more intense.Online activity comes under scrutiny and offers a subtle statement about abuse – much like what is happening today. The cast is fine, the visuals are excellent, but the story teeters a bit due to the confusion of time/place. In the end, after the film is over, that ‘flaw’ seems additive to the horror of the message of the story. It would be helpful to see the film again – informed. Grady Harp, June 20

"The Captive" starring Ryan Reynolds is a rollercoaster of suspense that will leave you questioning everything – including whether you've locked your doors properly.Ryan Reynolds, known for his wit and charm, takes a detour into the intense and gripping world of abduction in this thriller. His performance is a masterclass in conveying anguish and desperation, proving that he's not just the king of quips but also the master of raw emotion.The plot, a labyrinth of twists and turns, keeps you on the edge of your seat, weaving a web of suspense that's more intricate than your grandma's knitting. It's a nail-biter that will make you want to double-check your home security system after watching.The film's cinematography is hauntingly beautiful, capturing the eerie atmosphere that permeates every scene. Reynolds, often the lighthearted leading man, delivers a performance that's a departure from his usual repertoire – a testament to his versatility as an actor.However, be warned: "The Captive" is not your average Friday night popcorn flick. It's an intense ride that will make you question the safety of your surroundings and maybe even your own shadow. If you're up for a psychological thriller that stays with you long after the credits roll, buckle up for "The Captive." Ryan Reynolds has officially entered the thriller game, and it's a captivating journey you won't easily forget.

I'm not familiar with Atom Egoyan's body of work, but I was aware that his recent films haven't been too well received, this one included. THE CAPTIVE has some great, lurid subject material but it lacked any emotional depth and its non-linear construction does more to hurt than help it. The basic story is that Matthew Lane's (Ryan Reynolds) daughter disappeared eight years ago, but tantalizing clues keep popping up that seem to indicate she may still be alive. One thing I think was done well was the way in which the villain was portrayed. Normally, this type of movie would be sort of like a whodunit, but instead you get a pretty good look at what a child predator is like. Too bad that character motivations are never really explored beyond a father desperately wanting his child back, and the non-linear structure absolutely kills any character development as you never see the progression the characters take. There is also very little suspense due to this same thing, and to make matters worse the way in which things are wrapped up was a little too clean in my opinion. Not that there's anything wrong with happy endings, but for such a downbeat movie I expected something a little more bittersweet. However, despite the story problems the film was generally well-acted, except for the actress portraying Matt's daughter Cassandra (Alexia Fast). Something about her line delivery was just off. Ryan Reynolds gives a pretty good serious performance and Kevin Durand was wonderfully off-kilter and creepy as the villain. Mireille Enos (the mother) was ok, but I didn't particularly like when her character resorted to the typical hysterics. It was a little too over the top, to be honest. However, the real standout in the cast was Rosario Dawson. The parts of the story which focused on her cop character were the most interesting to me. In regards to technical aspects, the film was well-shot and had an interesting visual style. The entire film takes place in winter, and there were lots of beautiful shots of snowy landscapes. The score was decent too, and fit the material rather well. Overall, this was a well-made film on a technical level but it has some story and character issues which make it less than it could have been. I'd say that this is something you would be justified in skipping, though, especially when there's better similar films, like PRISONERS.

This movie tells a story of a father who will not stop looking for his kidnapped daughter. The storyline shows the strong emotions that her parents felt, and shows how brave and courageous her father is.

Atom Egoyan logra una magnifica puesta en escena repleta de tensión, logrando que Reynolds nos regale una de sus mejores actuaciones. Muy recomendable.

Un bon film qui ne manquera pas d'inquiéter les parents, une histoire d'enlèvement d'enfants bien ficelée, qui s'attarde beaucoup sur la psychologie des personnages, les effets de cet enlèvement sur le couple et sur les parents.

Il film, privo di sottotitoli italiani, è tuttavia ben seguibile da chi possiede una conoscenza della lingua inglese medio/buona. Ottimo thriller complesso e sfaccettato per chi ama il genere. Dvd in perfette condizioni.

Impeccable

Livraison rapide et film très bien.