The Captive
The Captive

Movie spotlight

The Captive

2014
Movie
112 min
English

Eight years after their daughter Cassandra's abduction tore them apart, an estranged couple discover disturbing clues that indicate that she is still alive.

Insights

IMDb5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes17%
Metacritic25/100
Google Users32%
Director: Atom EgoyanGenres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Plot Summary

Eight years after his daughter was abducted, a father believes she has returned when a young woman resembling her appears. However, this new arrival is involved in a complex web of deception orchestrated by the original kidnapper, who continues to exert control over his victims. The film explores the psychological toll of prolonged grief and the desperate search for truth and closure.

Critical Reception

The Captive received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics, who largely criticized its convoluted plot, illogical character motivations, and bleak tone. While Ryan Reynolds' performance was sometimes singled out as a rare positive, the film was generally considered a significant misfire for director Atom Egoyan.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film suffers from a nonsensical and highly implausible plot.

  • Character motivations are weak and often defy logic.

  • Despite a strong lead performance, the overall tone is excessively grim and unengaging.

Google audience: Google users generally found 'The Captive' to be a confusing and frustrating watch, with many criticizing the predictable twists and illogical narrative. Some viewers appreciated Ryan Reynolds' effort but felt the film was ultimately a wasted opportunity.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014, where it was met with significant criticism and booing during its press screening.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Reno

Reno

**The message is to we be alert all time, no matter how friendly the society is.** This is like an extended version of 'Prisoners'. Sets in a small snowy Canadian town where a ten year old girl was mysteriously disappeared and so the fil...