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Captivity

Generally unfavorable reviews
Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 58 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Suspense/Thriller
Written by:
Larry Cohen (& story)
Joseph Tura
Directed by: Roland Joffé
Release Date:
Theatrical: July 13, 2007
DVD: October 30, 2007
Running Time: 85 minutes, Color
Origin: USA / Russia
Summary
RATING: R for strong violence, torture, pervasive terror, grisly images, language and some sexual material
Starring Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Michael Harney, and Rebekah Ryan
Top cover girl and fashion model, Jennifer Tree has it all - beauty, fame, money and power. She is loved and adored and sought after. But someone out there wants her in the worst way. Out alone at a charity event in Soho, Jennifer is drugged and taken. Held captive in a cell, Jennifer is subjected to a series of terrifying, life-threatening tortures that could only be conceived by a twisted, sadistic mind. (After Dark Films)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Vatel
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database View The Trailer Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Village Voice Luke Y. Thompson
Roland Joffé creates a visually interesting and aurally unsettling vibe, and the story from B-movie maestro Larry Cohen keeps it simple.
Read Full Review >Variety Joe Leydon
Destined to be better remembered for its grisly billboard imagery than for its relatively tame torture-porn tropes, Captivity is a thoroughly nasty piece of work that nonetheless earns credit for generating modest suspense after a predictable but effective plot twist around the 50-minute mark.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman
Roland Joffé brings an artful video-grunge look, and not much else, to this "Saw" clone.
Read Full Review >Empire Kim Newman
Torture junkies should remember it’s only four months to Saw IV -- so you can afford to avoid Captivity.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall
It's not scary because not one second is believable.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Felix Vasques Jr.
A terrible rehash of better torture genre exploitation, with none of the charm.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
The movie has been thoroughly eclipsed by "Captivity" the marketing.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias
In a genre where killers love to play head games, it's a clever idea (Cohen's?) to have this one remain mute, but that leaves Cuthbert to carry much of the psychological load, and there's no substance to her character, apart from the suggestion that she's being punished for her vanity.
Read Full Review >The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason Anderson
A lurid thriller that marks a new career low for both director Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields, The Mission) and co-screenwriter Larry Cohen (Phone Booth, It's Alive).
Read Full Review >New York Post Rocco Landesman
Captivity is torture porn without the sex. Cuthbert squirms, screams, weeps and pleads for her life with great conviction. Slick, sick sleaze.
Read Full Review >The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
The end result doesn't even satisfy on its own sleazy terms. Not only does it lack the satirical nihilism of the "Hostel" films or the admittedly clever torture machinations of the "Saw" series, it doesn't even provide its target young male audience with the requisite nudity.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles Times Robert Abele
It's the movie business equivalent of encountering someone you once knew begging for money on the street.
Read Full Review >ReelViews James Berardinelli
If there is another challenger for worst entry of 2007, I don't want to see it.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov
Captivity is the kind of film that gives torture porn a bad name.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 4.1 (out of 10) based on 58 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
[Anonymous] gave it a2:
If you like Saw - this is not even remotely what you're used to. If you don't like Saw - this movie might just be watered-down enough for you to enjoy, but I wouldn't bet my buck on it. If you haven't seen Saw - see it first.
Keith J gave it a5:
I think the movie has a lot of material to mine, most of which it doesn't mine. The negative professional reviews are people piling on due to complaints it promotes violence against women. The movie does not suck the way they claim, it's political. That said, I think the movie pulls too many punches. It goes to the limit but it doesn't cross the limit ... and at the end, it pulls back even from that. It's as if they lost their nerve halfway through. There is a deep vein of darkness and fear inside us that this movie could have mined, but instead, it just took a core sample.
Jared C. gave it a10:
Very good movie. Way unexpected.
Richard F. gave it a1:
This movies goes for pure shock value and fails on all levels. A must miss.
[Anonymous] gave it a2:
This is the most boring horror movie of all time, very little happens and what does take place is too predictable. Don't waste your time on this movie.
Turner S. gave it a7:
The movie was more than I expected. It really had on feeling glad that it's just a movie, and not real...way to go!!!
steve v. gave it a0:
This movie sucks. Anything that can make Saw look good has to be immensely shite.
