By the end of “Prisoners,” you will be drained, emotionally spent and in need of a moment to process this white-knuckle masterpiece of a thriller.

Filled with many unexpected twists and turns — which keep you guessing the entire time — this movie is scarier than any horror film. It makes the audience experience any parent’s worst nightmare: an Amber alert.

The film starts out innocently: Two families, the Dovers and the Birches, are celebrating Thanksgiving. But the scene turns ominous, and the danger is present as soon as the girls go play outside — alone — and discover a shady old RV parked on the street. Then they’re abducted.

Hugh Jackman plays Keller Dover, a devoted father and family man who will do anything to have his daughter, Anna, back safely. He is ruthless and determined. But his anger gets the best of him when he faces Alex (Paul Dano), the man believed to have abducted his little girl. Dover’s best friend, Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), is equally concerned with the disappearance of his own daughter, Joy, but uses less violent tactics when searching for her.

Even with his intense portrayal, Jackman has such an exceptionally graceful presence onscreen that it nearly outshines his Oscar-winning performance in “Les Misérables.”

“Prisoners” demonstrates the strong bond that forms between a father and daughter by showing each father as the much more active character in the search for their missing children. The mothers, meanwhile, act as the more emotional counterparts — and understandably so. Grace Dover (Maria Bello) was found lying in the fetal position next to prescription pills on multiple occasions, while Nancy Birch (Viola Davis) sat nearly paralyzed in a kitchen full of dirty dishes.

The film also toys with themes of religion and revenge, as there is a strong sense of good versus evil throughout. Crucifixes are often seen dangling from review mirrors, and characters tend to pray before acts of violence and in times of utter despair. Plus, two innocent characters are named Joy and Grace.

Aaron Guzikowski did an excellent job writing “Prisoners.” The script takes the audience through a maze of different suspects and plot twists, so you never know what you are going to see until the very end. Those twists are intensified by the intentional misdirection by leading people to believe certain places are filled with warmth and delight. But there is darkness and danger instead.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Detective Loki, a determined advocate searching for the two girls. Being a detective who has solved every case he has been given, Loki finds himself overly stressed and disappointed when he has difficulty solving this one. Gyllenhaal also gives an outstanding performance in every scene he’s in.

The cinematography also makes the film stronger. The lighting and filters used to create the dark browns, blues and blacks — mixed with rainstorms and overcast skies — help the audience share the same desperation the actors are experiencing.

While it has mainly drawn a middle-aged audience, “Prisoners” is a great, suspenseful film for young adults and anyone else who enjoy films that bring them to the edge of their seats. The acting is superb, the script is captivating and you’re always wondering what crazy thing will happen next.

Even at 153 minutes, “Prisoners” is one of the most intense movie-going experiences of the year.

Published on September 25, 2013 at 12:29 am

Contact Brittany: baruss01@syr.edu