Denis Villeneuve’s Gripping Crime Thriller Is a 153-Minute Masterpiece That Puts ‘Dune’ To Shame

2013’s Prisoners is every parent’s worst nightmare, which features missing children, a kidnapper at large, and little to no help from the authorities. Denis Villeneuve‘s crime thriller is an absolute masterpiece, armed with an original and terrifying script written by Aaron Guzikowski. Prisoners follows Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) and Franklin Birch (Terrence Howard), two fathers who embark on a frantic search after their respective daughters go missing on Thanksgiving Day. What ensues is a gut-wrenching trek through the cold and wet Pennsylvania suburbs, as the temperamental Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) conducts his investigation.

The audience is placed directly in the shoes of characters who are going through a living hell. Denis Villeneuve’s pacing is flat-out agonizing, but only because the story requires it to be. Combine that with the Oscar-nominated cinematography courtesy of long-time collaborator Roger Deakins, and the suspense created is palpable. With all due respect to Villeneuve’s Dune, the fan-favorite adaptation is nothing compared to the directorial genius of Prisoners.

Denis Villeneuve Brings Out the Best in Actors Who Are Forced To Go Through the Worst

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

Denis Villeneuve has a gift for bringing out the best in his actors by honing in on the intricacies of a character. Jackman and Howard turn in performances so impressive and unlike anything we’ve seen before, as their characters carry the heavy weight and desperation of their situation in every scene. Whether it’s Jackman’s uncontrollable and innate fatherly protectiveness when threatening to break Alex Jones’ (Paul Dano) fingers with a hammer in his makeshift interrogation room, or Jake Gyllenhaal’s manic and stress-induced blinking of Detective Loki throughout his torturous investigation, the tension and stress is palpable.

Viola Davis‘ strong and hopeful portrayal of Nancy Birch contrasts that of Maria Bello as the fragile and inconsolable Grace Dover. Denis makes it a point to highlight that the leading couples are polar opposites of one another. Jackman is sturdy, while Bello is broken. And Howard is totally debilitated, while Davis is headstrong and resilient. Villeneuve forces viewers to put themselves inside the waking nightmare found in the screenplay. Prisoners isn’t just the title of the film, but it’s a descriptor of those watching the movie as well.

Denis Villeneuve Makes the Dreary Pennsylvania Suburbs in ‘Prisoners’ Its Own Character

It’s worth noting that there is not a single sunny day shot in the entire film. This is done deliberately and sends a poignant message. Pennsylvania, like most of the Northeast, has a history of enduring incredibly harsh winters, and as the movie portrays so superbly, winter usually starts around Thanksgiving, and doesn’t loosen its grip until late March. (For anyone who needs more proof that seasonal depression is real, just watch Prisoners.) Roger Deakins’ eye for photography perfectly encapsulates the Pennsylvania suburbs, including the surrounding wilderness.

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This attention to detail turns what would be a standard film setting into a character itself. The cinematography reflects the plot while adding to the suspense. Pennsylvania is dreary, and just as there’s no reprieve from the anxiety and fear of a missing child, there’s never relief from the dark clouds hanging overhead. The late fall, early winter scenes are cold and cruel, just like someone who would have the gall to kidnap two young girls from their families.

The relentless battering of snow, sleet, and rain, reflects the endless barrage of “Where are they?” and “What if?” going through the minds of each parent. The subject matter is so heavy that it feels like the weight of the world is on every character’s shoulders. No scene is a better metaphor for that crushing weight than Detective Loki speeding through thick precipitation in the pitch dark, trying to save Anna Dover (Erin Gerasimovich). Every sweeping exterior shot forces the audience into imagining the worst-case scenario for the missing girls. Thanks to Deakins and Villenueve, this is the perfect example of how world-building can be so effective in a film.

‘Prisoners’ Deserved More Critical Acclaim

Image via Warner Bros.

Prisoners is so much more than a throw-away thriller. Unfortunately, we live in a world where crime like this happens far too often, anytime, anywhere, and the film is a cautious reminder of that sentiment. Looking back, it’s almost shocking that the movie was even recognized for Best Cinematography given how the Academy feels about the horror/thriller genre, but this project deserved better. The National Board of Review rewarded the cast with the Best Ensemble Award in 2013. That alone is a clear indicator of just how good each and every actor’s performance was. Suffice it to say, one lousy Oscar was never enough.

It’s more than a little disappointing that the blockbuster sci-fi spectacle of Dune has overshadowed what might be Villeneuve’s best movie. He took a risk in creating a film centered around this kind of subject matter. But the director’s talent, attention to detail, and storytelling abilities are the best in the business. From pre-production all the way through the film’s unexpected conclusion, Prisoners is Villeneuve’s masterpiece.

Release Date

September 20, 2013

Runtime

153 minutes

Director

Denis Villeneuve