Secuestrados Reviews

Initial Thought: I really don't know much about this one. It's a foreign movie about people who break into a home and mayhem ensues. I decided to check it out for movie group weekend because it was something I hadn't seen before. Apparently they have played it a few years now.

Characters/Acting: No one here I recognize although one guy has been in a few things I've seen. The only people I liked here were the youngest of the bad guys, the leader, and the father. Everyone else here were not so good. The blond haired villain was the most screwed up and evil for what he does throughout. The daughter was so annoying. I get that situations like this can be traumatizing, but the way she was crying was excessive and overacting. It may be realistic given what happens, but she literally does it the whole time even when seriously nothing at all is happening. The mother doesn't do much at all really good or bad. She is pretty much just there. The boyfriend has to be one of the worst boyfriends I have seen in film that isn't a bad guy. He is just a pathetic waste of screen time probably only added to put an additional person on the body count . The father seemed like a good man. I thought he did what he could with the situation. I felt that he did make a few errors, but other than that he was the most likeable of the family for sure. The young villain was interesting as he was the usual guy who disagrees with the extreme stuff although he still runs off with the money. The main villain was pretty badass and although obviously not a good guy by any means he is pretty entertaining especially near the end. I would have liked if the daughter left and came back when everything was over to avoid the excessive overacted crying.

Story: Well the plot sounds like Panic Room, The Purge, Trespass, or similar to those. It came before some, but not all. I'm sure it will be fine even if a little bit unoriginal. I really don't understand what the beginning of the movie has to do with anything. He looked like the father or maybe I wasn't paying too much attention. I'm guessing it was intended to show that these guys have done this before. It didn't really do anything for the story though to be honest. It really felt out of place. I think that daughter changed her clothes at least 2 times after taking a shower. I swear women can be odd haha. There are some obvious foreshadowing moments here and there. It's a bit predictable unfortunately although mostly to a certain extent. The last like ten minutes were great due to sheer shock value.

Directing/Writing: I haven't heard of the writer or director. The director though is having a film coming out this year that has a cast member I am familiar with. I think the director did a fine job with pacing and how everything pulled together. I liked how they showed the view of two of the characters in totally different settings as they come together and the screens join one.

Final Thought: It wasn't excellent, but it was still a decent watch. Most of the characters kind of sucked though. I wish they weren't all so damn pathetic. I mean I guess it was realistic and who knows I myself might actually turn out to be pathetic in such a situation. In a movie however I don't want to see the good guys be so useless. Anyways for a one time watch it wasn't a waste of time. I liked the ending because it was different. A warning though this does contain a rape scene that can be uncomfortable and upsetting. The guy who does it gets what he deserves and then some trust me on that! I cheered when that happened to him. Other than that I say you might like it or not. It's not a bad movie the characters just weren't all the pleasant for me. It could have been much worse.

Kidnapped left me feeling ill, rattled, and deeply disturbed, but this does not make it a bad movie. On a technical level the film is flawless, being done in only 12 extended takes and great use of split spring, the tension is built to nearly unbearable levels. But I can't stress this enough, this is not for the faint of heart, this movie will gut you with a knife. However, you'll never forget it, even if you may want to.