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Captivity
After Dark Films


4.2

based on 17 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 55 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

Vatel

MPAA 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)

GENRE(S):	Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Larry Cohen (& story) Joseph Tura
DIRECTED BY:	Roland Joffé
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: October 30, 2007 Theatrical: July 13, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	85 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA / Russia

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.

TV Guide Ken Fox

Quite possibly the final word on a much-maligned genre.

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.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Roland Joffé brings an artful video-grunge look, and not much else, to this "Saw" clone.

Empire Kim Newman

Torture junkies should remember it’s only four months to Saw IV -- so you can afford to avoid Captivity.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

It's not scary because not one second is believable.

Film Threat Felix Vasques Jr.

A terrible rehash of better torture genre exploitation, with none of the charm.

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis

The movie has been thoroughly eclipsed by "Captivity" the marketing.

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.

Premiere Glenn Kenny

Thoroughly irritating little film.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

A wan, derivative entry in the torture-porn cycle.

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).

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.

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.

Los Angeles Times Robert Abele

It's the movie business equivalent of encountering someone you once knew begging for money on the street.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

If there is another challenger for worst entry of 2007, I don't want to see it.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Captivity is the kind of film that gives torture porn a bad name.

The average user rating for this movie is 4.2 (out of 10) based on 55 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.

Captivity After Dark Films

Captivity
After Dark Films