"Prisoners" (2013)

Prisoners is a film that feels haunted in just about every frame. Set in late fall, the film features a rich autumnal color palette (reminds me of Halloween) which sets the tone for the film. It's a bleak story about children kidnapped and the father (Hugh Jackman) and police officer (Jake Gyllenhaal, a great performance in a less than great film) who take very different yet equally ceaseless approaches to find them. There are overt but appropriate tinges of post-9/11 anxiety around the corners of the film -- in the desperate, questionable measures of justice enacted. Jackman's character crosses several lines in his search for answers, and his actions continually push us to feel uncomfortable rooting for him. The film takes storytelling routes that make us really feel the devastation of the families -- sometimes far too bluntly in the case of Jackson's character. However, the kidnapping never seems to exist as a convenient plot device for thrills. Even when there is tangible results and justice doled out, it's never fully rewarded -- trauma lingers, and life keeps going on as best as it can. Though more than a little rote, Prisoners delivers the goods: it's consistently thrilling, and the production is well-mounted under director Denis Villeneuve, who creates a textured environment that feels worth langouring in.

Grade: ★★★