Prisoners
is
an
intense
mystery
thriller
that
blurs
the
line
of
morality.
It
is
about
good
and
evil,
doing
what
is
right
and
necessary
and
is
layered
over
a
tale
of
the
prey,
the
predator
and
the
survival
of
the
fittest.
It
is
a
story
of
abducted
kids,
their
parents'
angst
and
perseverance
in
order
to
find
them.
The
film
begins
with
Keller
Dover
(Hugh
Jackman)
reciting
the
Catholic
payer
"Our
father..." while
his
teenage
son
Ralph
(Dylan
Minnette),
shoots
down
his
first
hunt,
a
deer.
This
scene
explains
that
god
is
the
reason
for
every
action
committed,
but
paradoxically
in
the
very
next
scene,
in
the
vehicle
on
their
way
back
from
the
hunt,
Keller
tells
his
son
that
in
the
battle
of
survival,
"It
gets
to
a
point
where
the
only
thing
standing
between
you
and
another
person
is
you."
This
lays
the
foundation
to
the
narration.
It
is
Thanksgiving
Day.
Keller
Dover,
his
wife
Grace
(Maria
Bello),
son
Ralph
and
six-year-old
daughter
Anna
(Erin
Gerasimovich)
are
having
a
good
time
partying
along
with
their
neighbours,
the
Birchs;
Franklin
and
Nancy
(Terrence
Howard
and
Viola
Davis),
their
teenage
daughter
Elizia
(Zoe
Soul)
and
Joy
(Kyla-Drew
Simmons),
who
is
close
to
Anna's
age.
Suddenly
in
the
middle
of
the
celebrations,
Anna
and
Joy
go
missing.
Detective
Loki
(Jake
Gyllenhaal)
pitches
in.
Alex
Wintermann
Jones
(Paul
Dano),
a
26-year-old
man
with
the
IQ
of
a
10-year-old,
with
a
worn-out
recreational
vehicle,
is
considered
a
suspect.
Convinced
of
Alex's
guilt
and
not
depending
on
god
or
the
law
to
take
its
own
course,
Keller
has
his
own
agenda.
Desperate
to
find
their
daughter,
the
Birchs
too,
take
a
stand
with,
"We
won't
help
Keller,
but
won't
stop
him
either.
God
knows
where
he
will
lead
to."
This
act
does
question
ethics.
Performance
Jackman
gives
a
solid,
unwavering
performance,
tapping
into
a
sometimes
protective,
more
often
frightening
fury.
His
misery
and
pain,
seeing
his
wife
suffer
is
palpable.
Also,
one
would
vacillate
while
judging
him
when
he
lashes
out
at
Alex.
Jackman
is
Keller
Dover
to
the
core.
Of
the
supporting
cast,
all
are
notable
and
convincing.
The
families
are
beautifully
established
and
you'll
care
about
what
happens
simply
because
kids
are
involved.
You
feel
you
are
seeing
real
people,
reliving
their
moments.
Apart
from
the
family,
it
is
Melissa
Leo
as
Holly
Jones,
Alex's
caring
aunt,
who
is
impressive
and
Paul
Dano
as
the
conflict
ridden
Alex
for
whom
your
heart
would
bleed.
His
performance
is
extraordinary
and
restrained,
difficult
to
figure
out.
Cinematography
Visually,
Prisoners
is
enthralling.
Cinematographer
Roger
Deakins
captures
the
pristine
beauty
of
landscape
on
outskirts
of
Pennsylvania
during
the
late
autumn
and
early
winter,
giving
some
astounding
imagery.
Editing,
Music
The
direction
and
editing
is
compact
and
good.
The
understated
score
brilliantly
builds
ample
amounts
of
suspense.
Script
The
script
of
Prisoners,
with
its
psychological
tropes,
is
spellbinding
and
slow.
It
hardly
ever
meanders
making
it
creepy
yet
compelling.
It
has
enough
punches
and
evocative
moments.
Director
Denis
Villeneuve
has
the
gift
that
can
hook
the
audience,
making
this
film
exceptional.
Verdict
It
definitely
is
not
going
to
be
an
easy
task
to
watch
this
film
without
questioning
your
values.
Cast:
Hugh
Jackman,
Jake
Gyllenhaal,
Viola
Davis,
Maria
Bello,
Terrence
Howard,
Melissa
Leo,
Paul
Dano,
Dylan
Minnette,
Zoe
Soul,
Erin
Gerasimovich
and
Kyla-Drew
Simmons
Director:
Denis
Villeneuve
IANS