Prisoners is the type of movie that digs its way into your psyche and festers — in the best way possible. Ranked the second-best psychological thriller of the last 15 years by Collider, the dark, unsettling, and emotionally intense crime drama is peak viewing. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you doing right now?
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Set over Thanksgiving, the plot follows the kidnapping of two little girls, plucked from their quiet street in their seemingly safe suburban town, and the investigation launched to bring them home. The film stars Hugh Jackmanand Jake Gyllenhaal, with the latter playing Detective Loki, the lead investigator on the case, and the former playing Keller Dover, a grieving father who will do whatever it takes to find the girls.
“Prisoners is a masterclass of tension and emotionally gripping storytelling that exemplifies everything that makes psychological thrillers such an enthralling and exceptional experience,” Collider writes. “The mystery at the center is only a portion of the film’s brilliance, as the paralleling desperation and pain of its characters amidst the confusion and anger is what transforms it into a work of art.”
Directed by French-Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated film is the filmmaker’s first English-language film, to be followed by Sicario, Arrival, and the Dune franchise. The script comes from the relative newcomer Aaron Guzikowski, who was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart for his story about grief, obsession, and moral collapse.
Behind the scenes, production took as many twists and turns as the film’s own thrilling narrative. Jackman initially signed on, dropped out, then later returned to the project. Early casting talks also included Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg, who ultimately left to star in The Fighter. Ryan Gosling, who stars in Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049, even auditioned for Loki.
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In the end, Gyllenhaal won the role and made it his own, adding the tattoos, facial tics, and Freemason ring that define Detective Loki as the obsessive cop who refuses to let a case go cold. Under the precision of Villeneuve, the film has become a celebrated modern psychological marvel that still haunts us to this day. Just wait for that final scene. Good lawd if ever a sequel were warranted.
Prisoners is available to rent or buy on Prime Video.
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