Review: ‘Prisoners’ is powerful with some of best performances of the year

Posted on September 27, 2013

From Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, “Prisoners” is gripping and shocking, with one of the best top-to-bottom casts I’ve seen this year. There are movies you can go into and simply enjoy them for their entertainment value, but this is not one of them. This is a film that you simply experience, letting it wash over you. I left  emotionally drained at the end of its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, but convinced I’d seen something special.

The performances are top-notch, and I would be surprised if several of the film’s actors are not among the contenders when award season comes around. Even with its length, the story is taunt with tension from the moment the girls go missing to the second the end credits begin rolling, with enough twists and turns in the investigation to keep you guessing. If you think you can handle it, “Prisoners” is a film worth watching.

The film is rated R for disturbing violent content including torture, and language throughout.

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