Captive (2015)

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Captive is based on the true story of a junkie trying to get her daughter back who is taken hostage by a killer in her home. It's a moderately entertaining story which is helped greatly by good performances by the leads Kate Mara and David Oyelowo. The story does fall flat in places and there is a surprising lack of tension garnered from the situation. However the actors do there best with the material and this just about elevates the film above average in my opinion. Saying that there are enough good scenes to keep you watching.It's nothing to get excited about but it's a decent enough thriller to pass the time especially if you have never heard of the story.

I saw this film without knowing anything about Brian Nichols and his story and I enjoyed it. I then saw the low ratings and mixed reviews and i wondered why. I'd classify it as drama/thriller: the tension is present throughout the movie but the main feature is the development of the two leading characters. David Oyelowo's acting is solid but it's above all Kate Mara's performance that strikes the viewer with her portrait of a troubled woman trying to make sense of her life. The interaction between the two, ranging from violent to almost tender, is another leitmotif. I guess knowing the ending takes away a lot of the suspense making it predictable hence my summary line. All cast is up to the task and delivers nuanced work.

This movie really lacked the suspense, the thrill and the tension that it needed. It was just such a boring and formulaic movie to sit through despite it being based on a true story. There was almost nothing about this movie that was inspiring or uplifting because the execution was poorly done. Everything just seemed so pretentious and forced to the point it got aggravating to sit through. Especially during the clips at the end before the credits started to roll. So the plot is about a woman who is a drug addict that also has a child of her own gets held captive by a escaped convict. A movie like this should have some heart to it but nothing about this movie moved me. This is a boring and dull film to sit through because despite it being based on a true story, it just didn't seem real (if that makes any sense). Just pass on this one.4/10

I remember see this on the news as it unfolded. It was a shocking and an incredible story. I think many will find it controversial. This film was very good and it was fascinating to see how she got through to the killer. Ashley, the main character and hostage, was able to reach a core of decency (I was surprised he even had it) inside a man who had cold-heartedly murdered 4 other people. At the same time, Ashley was able to not give up hope and grow spiritually and strengthen her resolve to trust God. I can't imagine how she felt going this through this with her child.