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When creating a film that resonates with an audience, one of two things need to be present. Strong acting, or a story that can carry enough emotions despite the mediocre performances. Prisoners has both strong acting and emotional story that as it develops continues to increase the emotional stakes for every character involved.
Detective Loki is doing all he can to find two missing girls, but for Keller Dover nothing will be enough until his daughter is home safe. Dover takes matters into his own hands and decides to interrogate the suspect using his own tactics.
Prisoners has enough emotion to last a long time, and knows exactly when to add more thanks to the haunting visuals created by director Denis Villeneuve. Just when things seem dark enough, Villeneuve incorporates a camera trick that makes it even more ominous and eerie. As the film progresses the stakes are set pretty high for the people involved, but Villeneuve takes his time approaching the climax with a striking precision that very directors have. He waits for the correct moment to drop every twist, he waits for the perfect timing to grab the perfect reaction from these more than capable actors. He makes sure the audience is hooked by always knowing the time to reveal a key piece of information. It is never too much to process as far as plot goes, but very seldom does the result end up generating a positive emotion. This film is difficult to handle, the darkness and chilling atmosphere of the realistic story on display makes the emotional fallout devastating on more than just a film basis.
The reason these emotions are always so difficult to handle is because of the actors portraying them. Jackman is at the top of his game. His emotional range as an actor is tested multiple times during this film and not once does he falter. Jackman gives off one of the finer performances I have seen him give. He never sets himself up for allowing too much emotion. He displays a wide range from anger, fear, sadness and guilt. Yet over the course of this films run, those actions are all part of the phenomenal character development. Gyllenhaal falls in nicely, playing the quiet detective assigned to the case who begins to find himself emotionally invested in the case at hand. Gyllenhaal seems quiet and reserved, saving his display of emotions for the thrilling climax. It's not to say Gyllenhaal was boring in the early going but once again a testament to the fact Villeneuve knew exactly how to capture the scene.
Prisoners is a slow burning film, which can be an immediate turn off for certain people. The script written by Aaron Guzikowski allows for this film to be exactly what it needs to be, which is a gripping, haunting piece about how frightening this world can be. This film will resonate with you, maybe not because of that one memorable scene. Maybe not because of that long winded action scene that was full of explosives, but because of how simplistic most of the set pieces were. Nothing about this film was either narratively complicated or visually complicated, but it makes a poignant social commentary about morals and how far is too far.
Easily one of the finest pieces of drama so far in 2013. Compelling, emotionally gripping and darkly realistic. Enter Prisoners knowing it will be in your mind long after you watch it. Nothing about this film is easy to handle. Definitely recommended for those who want a film that will grip them from start to finish. Jackman and Gyllenhaal are perfect in this film, don't pass this one up.
9/10
