“Prisoners”

 

Director: Denis Villeneuves

Writer:  Aaron Guzikowski

With Jake Gyllenhaal, Hugh Jackman, Paul Dano, Maria Bello,

Viola Davis, and Terrence Howard

 

It is guaranteed that you will find “Prisoners” the most intense and haunting thriller to hit the screen in ages.  This chilling story centers around every parent’s worst nightmare: the kidnapping of a child, and the lengths that a parent may go to find that child.

It is Thanksgiving in a small, working class Pennsylvania town and two families have gathered for dinner. Anna and Joy, their 6-year-old daughters, go outside to play. They never come home.

The calm, collected, but tormented Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal), promises the hysterical parents that he will find their daughters. An emotionally disturbed and creepy man, Alex Jones (Paul Dano), was seen nearby in his ramshackle white trailer about the time of the girls’ disappearance and is taken in for questioning.

In despair, the survivalist Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) , Amy’s impulsive, avenging father, takes matters into his own hands. In denial, his wife, Grace (Maria Bello) escapes to her bed with a profusion of medications. Joy’s parents, Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard) and Nancy (Viola Davis) are also paralyzed by their grief.

Dover, a honorable man, becomes a savage and vicious vigilante not above brutalizing and torturing the man he thinks has kidnapped his daughter. The Birches, horrified at what he does, still go along with him because they are desperate to find their daughter, Joy.

“Prisoners” takes place in the period of one week. Detective Loki methodically follows every clue while also trying to get Dover to keep out of the business of finding the kidnapper. There are twists and turns in the investigation, many surprising leads.

This is Canadian director Denis Villenueves first English language film. He slowly builds character in each of his actors. Hugh Jackman’s Keller reaches his boiling point; Jake Gyllenhaal’s tattooed Detective Lodi is imprisoned in his own emotional turmoil. All actors give top-notch performances.

The cinematography by Roger Deakins creates a cold and barren tone throughout. The wet chill of winter enhances the gloomy feel of the film.

“Prisoners” has a relentless and startling impact. Every moment absorbs the viewer’s attention, and most will be drained by the end of its two-and-a-half hour duration. This is an edge-of-the-seat entertainment. More than a thriller, “Prisoners” is also a voyage into the nature of evil. It is well worth the trip.