Captivity (2007)

Top cover girl and fashion model Jennifer Tree (Elisha Cuthbert) has it all - beauty fame money and power. Everyone wants her...but some more than others. Alone after a charity event she is drugged and taken. Directed by acclaimed director Roland Joffe Captivity delves deep into the minds of both captor and victim. Called one of the most controversial films of the year Captivity will leave you terrified and looking over your shoulder wondering if you could be next!System Requirements:Run time: 85 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 031398221791 Product Description

what a joke

I do not understand what movie the other reviewers are talking about. Did Amazon send me the G rated version of another movie or what ? What is this nonsense about torture ? There wasnt any except for the viewer waiting for some to finally appear on the screen. The was nothing in this movie to even make it fall under the horror genre. Even the violence, what there was that is, couldnt possible get it more than a PG rating. It was even a bad PG movie. The nightly news has more horror and torture than what this movie had. Does the term false advertising come to mind. I was expecting Barney to make a cameo in this movie. June 30, 2008

Don't bother

Its a sure sign that a film doesn't work for me when not once during this film was I scared. Sure during one of the torture scenes I wanted to look away, but that wasn't fear, more disgust at the nature of the events going on. Really I can't see much point to a film like this. You see it once, for the 'thrill', and then in my case I've vowed never to watch it again. In that respect its a bit like Hostel except not as good (and Hostel was not that good itself).

The plot was fairly predictable, the acting ok and the music a rip-off of the Halloween theme. All rather pointless in my view. Furthermore to call it torture porn (whatever that means) is really over the top. Elisha Cuthbert is a great looking actress, but apart from one non-torture scene her dignity remains intact during the film.

In summary I would say don't buy unless very cheap, because its not scary, and overall I would say it really isn't worth watching at all.
May 4, 2008

Watchable torture-porn entry

And yet another entry into the waning torture porn genre, which I'll admit I'm a fan of. I mean come on, who doesn't enjoy watching someone get a hydrochloric acid shower or force-fed a blended body parts concoction through a funnel? :)

This particular one has the definite feel of the Saw franchise, as we watch a stuck-up model psychologically and physically abused through the voyeuristic eyes of the captor/psycho via impossibly elaborate technical setups. As she bonds with another captive in the adjacent "cell" they attempt to escape a certainly unpleasant demise.

I'll give credit to Cuthbert who definitely seems to give it her all considering the type of film this is, which could certainly allow for some slumming giving her mid-level career stature. If it weren't for the totally ludicrous ending, I might have given this four stars. April 16, 2008

Not bad at all!

Sexy model Jennifer Tree (Elisha Cuthbert) happens to be the most popular cover girl in America! that is until one unfortunate night, she gets kidnapped by a mysterious cretin after being drugged at a party. At this maniac's house, the mysterious person psychologically tortures her and another victim named Gary (Daniel Gilles) is playing the game as well as both must try to find a way out.

Enjoyable psychological horror thriller from Russian director Roland Joffe and legendary writer Larry Cohen ("It's Alive", "The Stuff", "Q The Winged Serpent"). The film drew controversy before it was released last summer with unapproved graphic ads that later got changed, but the film isn't bad at all but does have a few gory moments like the stomach churning force feeding of puree made from human parts, it's basically a survival thriller movie with some nice tension and decent character build up, it's enjoyable but no where as graphic as you heard.

This DVD contains the unrated cut with footage not shown in the R-rated theatrical version and the only extras are trailers to other Lion's Gate releases, two featurettes and deleted scenes.

Also recommended: "Bloodsucking Freaks", "Funny Games", "Misery", "Ichi The Killer", "Driller Killer", "The New York Ripper", "Hostel 1 & 2", "Audition", "Deep Red", "Maniac (1980)", "Saw Quadrilogy", "Wolf Creek", "Hard Candy", "Pieces", "Scream", "Perfect Blue", "The Hills Have Eyes (1977 and 2006)", "Men Behind The Sun", "Intruder", "Battle Royale", "Silence of the Lambs", "Texas Chainsaw Massacre series including 2003 remake and The Beginning", "Re-Animator", "Last House on The Left", "House on The Edge of the Park", "The Devil's Rejects", "Mother's Day", "The Untold Story", "The Jacket", "Vancancy", "8MM", "Se7en", "Manhunter", "Hannibal", "The Toxic Avenger", "Tenebre", "Inferno", "Phenomena (a.k.a. Creepers)", "Halloween (2007)", "High Tension", "Stage Fright (1987)", "Opera" and "Hellraiser 1 & 2". March 12, 2008

held captive... at least a little

Captivity is both an overdone bloodfest, and a tastefully conceived dramatic psychoplay. If you hate the former, focus on the latter, because when you do, this movie plays out quite well. The feeling of Elisha's character being already held captive by an adoring public and ridiculous ideals set by an anorexically unhealthy modeling industry and public expectationsis well portrayed. The bond she forms with another captive prisoner is plausible and even understandable in this horrifying predicament. Unfortunately, the plot twists are forseen far, far before the director decides to alert us, and the bloody nasty array of torture and psychological bombardment by the captors is unnecessarily brutal. Still, these faults aside, Captivity is a worthy watch if just to see how it turns out. Like the accident on the side of the road, you dont want to look, but you just cant look away either... you're held in.... Captivity. 3.75 stars February 26, 2008

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