The Captive

Name: The Captive
Genre: Thriller
Released: December 12, 2014
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 36
Cast: Aaron Poole, Alexia Fast, Bruce Greenwood, Kevin Durand, Mireille Enos

2014

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings

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5.2

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5.2	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings

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The Captive

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Movie Details & Credits

A24 | Release Date: December 12, 2014 | Not Rated

Starring: Aaron Poole, Alexia Fast, Bruce Greenwood, Kevin Durand, Mireille Enos, Peyton Kennedy, Rosario Dawson, Ryan Reynolds, Scott Speedman

Summary: Matthew (Ryan Reynolds) steps briefly into a diner and comes out to find that his young daughter Cassandra has vanished without a trace from the back of his truck. Her unsolved abduction destroys Matthew's once-happy relationship with his wife, Tina (Mireille Enos), who, haunted by mementos of Cassandra that appear mysteriously at her work,Matthew (Ryan Reynolds) steps briefly into a diner and comes out to find that his young daughter Cassandra has vanished without a trace from the back of his truck. Her unsolved abduction destroys Matthew's once-happy relationship with his wife, Tina (Mireille Enos), who, haunted by mementos of Cassandra that appear mysteriously at her work, suspects her husband of foul play. Years later, when detectives Nicole (Rosario Dawson) and Jeffrey (Scott Speedman) discover recent images of Cassandra online, Matthew risks everything to ensure his daughter's safe return—and to save himself and Tina from the limbo of unrelenting despair. [A24]… Expand

Director: Atom Egoyan

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

The Telegraph Robbie Collin

May 25, 2014

This is Egoyan’s best film for a very long time: like Reynolds, he needed a hit, and The Captive is a welcome return to the form of The Sweet Hereafter. Its eeriness creeps up on you and taps you on the shoulder, and when you spin around, it’s still behind you. Read full review

A.A. Dowd

Dec 10, 2014

The structural gamesmanship is just a smokescreen, a way to obfuscate the pulp nature of what is, ultimately, little more than a glorified, low-aiming potboiler. Read full review

Michael Atkinson

Dec 9, 2014

When it isn't TV-movie familiar, Egoyan's film is bughouse crazy, mixing in campy pulp elements that bleed pressure away from the story. Read full review

John Bleasdale

May 25, 2014

Not exciting enough to be taken as straightforward thriller and not engaging enough for a dramatic character piece, Egoyan's The Captive is held back by its own lame script and a distinct lack of necessity. Read full review

Nov 20, 2014

The Captive is chock full of sealed rooms, kidnappings and abducted prisoners, but what it can never escape is its director's own shadow. Read full review

Justin Chang

May 25, 2014

The deftness with which the helmer manipulated time in his earlier pics eludes him in this generic procedural context... leaving us with obfuscation but no genuine sense of mystery. Read full review

David Rooney

May 25, 2014

The plotting here is so hopelessly tangled, clichéd, and bereft of psychological complexity that it's difficult to care what happens to any of these people. Read full review

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User Reviews

Proteus

Jan 4, 2015

Solid throughout. Ryan Reynolds is typically excellent. The acting is good, the story structure is sound. The subject matter is difficult and verges on heartbreaking. Recommended for fans of Reynolds, Egoyan or basic suspense thrillers. Don't be put off by the critics who have one thing inSolid throughout. Ryan Reynolds is typically excellent. The acting is good, the story structure is sound. The subject matter is difficult and verges on heartbreaking. Recommended for fans of Reynolds, Egoyan or basic suspense thrillers. Don't be put off by the critics who have one thing in common - they have never made a movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Mohamed45tdy

Apr 24, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved the Movie and Story and Actors............
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0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Feb 20, 2015

Stumbled upon this on cable and was completely engrossed. Performances are solid, direction outstanding (and ultimately gripping) and story is grim but compelling.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SSKellyHulse

Apr 4, 2015

Frustrating! This movie had me screaming at the screen mostly at the bizarre and totally unrealistic dialogue. Acting is mediocre at best which is surprising for such an all star cast. But Scott Speedman is perfect as an obnoxious jerk and Ryan Reynolds is great as always not too mention theFrustrating! This movie had me screaming at the screen mostly at the bizarre and totally unrealistic dialogue. Acting is mediocre at best which is surprising for such an all star cast. But Scott Speedman is perfect as an obnoxious jerk and Ryan Reynolds is great as always not too mention the only reason to even bother seeing this movie. Bottom line: if you miss this your probably better off!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JLuis_001

Sep 6, 2017

Imagine an episode of The Law and Order: SVU of almost two hours long, with many entanglements and some lost narrative and that's what you will get from The Captive, honestly I hoped for something much better, but the film fails to provide it, what a shame.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Stargirl04

May 15, 2016

what a snowy cold accurate 8 months of the year in Canada this movie was. That almost made it harder to watch because if I wanted to see that I could just look outside. It gave it a more desolate gloomy feel which I guess this kind of story calls for. Anyway the movie wasn't bad but therewhat a snowy cold accurate 8 months of the year in Canada this movie was. That almost made it harder to watch because if I wanted to see that I could just look outside. It gave it a more desolate gloomy feel which I guess this kind of story calls for. Anyway the movie wasn't bad but there were a few holes in the story that left me with questions. The police really irritated me with the accusatory stuff toward the father made me really irritated because that's not how a parent should be treated if they report a child missing. Until they have proof that the parent had something to do with it they should tone it down. but again it's a movie. a little strange but decent.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GhostDragon1977

Jul 26, 2023

Two words: movie sucked. This was a waste of time, rambling plot, terrible script, over the top acting, sad producing. Overall a terrible movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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