Captive State

Name: Captive State
Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Released: March 15, 2019
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Alan Ruck, Ashton Sanders, Ben Daniels, Brian Wolfman Black Bowman, D.B. Sweeney

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 69 Ratings

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5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 69 Ratings

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Captive State (Trailer 2)

Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: March 15, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Alan Ruck, Ashton Sanders, Ben Daniels, Brian Wolfman Black Bowman, D.B. Sweeney, Jackie Saland, James Ransone, John Goodman, Jonathan Majors, Kevin Dunn, Kevin J. O'Connor, KiKi Layne, Lizzy Leigh, Machine Gun Kelly, Madeline Brewer, Vera Farmiga

Summary: Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict - the collaborators and dissidents.

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 109 min

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Awards & Rankings

88	#88 Most Discussed Movie of 2019
82	#82 Most Shared Movie of 2019

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Critic Reviews

Joe Leydon

Mar 15, 2019

Although the TV ads and other promotional material appear to promise a megaplex-ready thrill ride about space invaders and rebellious Earthlings, this rigorously intelligent, cunningly inventive, and impressively suspenseful drama plays more like a classic tale about a disparate group of resistance fighters united in a guerrilla campaign against an occupying force. Read full review

Oktay Ege Kozak

Mar 18, 2019

It’s a shame that its studio didn’t more heavily market Captive State. Smart, layered, tense, well-executed sci-fi like this should be nurtured in movie theaters. Read full review

Matthew Monagle

Mar 18, 2019

At its best, Captive State blends imaginative science fiction with the caliber of detail-oriented espionage you might find in an Alan J. Pakula film. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Mar 15, 2019

Captive State is a messy, incomplete affair. Attempts to assemble it into a workable package in the editing room didn’t work, so we’re left with a weird cross between "District 9" and "The Battle of Algiers" that doesn’t do either of those apparent inspirations justice. Read full review

Michael Nordine

Mar 15, 2019

Embedded in all this is a would-be message about those who trade freedom for security, the human spirit, and so on and so forth, all of which is too muddled to register with the intended force. Captive State is many things at once — or at least it’s trying to be — and every match it lights along the way is quickly snuffed out. Read full review

Gary Goldstein

Mar 15, 2019

In Captive State aliens have taken over the world (as they will), but it’s the viewers stuck watching this messy, lugubrious sci-fi thriller who may feel like the ones being held captive. Read full review

Carlos Aguilar

Mar 16, 2019

Lacking poignancy at every level, what could have been a moderately exciting, if unoriginal, occupation thriller instead becomes a muddled and dispirited disappointment from the director who once earned high praise for “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” Read full review

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User Reviews

katafrag

May 30, 2019

A well-intentioned alien invasion story riddled with relevant but all too obvious and heavy-handed sociopolitical symbolism. In a film that's part "War of the Worlds," part "District 9" and part "Divergent," along with other all-too-familiar sci-fi allusions thrown in. we're handed a storyA well-intentioned alien invasion story riddled with relevant but all too obvious and heavy-handed sociopolitical symbolism. In a film that's part "War of the Worlds," part "District 9" and part "Divergent," along with other all-too-familiar sci-fi allusions thrown in. we're handed a story that's a little too crammed with ideas, characters, technologies and events to adequately keep track of things given the blistering pace of the story (a quality that, ironically, makes the picture somewhat tedious to watch). This could have been a lot better with some retooling -- and maybe a few more drafts of the screenplay.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

GrantD243

Sep 4, 2019

The marketing for this film was quite deceiving and I think hurt it quite a bit with general audiences, but I enjoyed it a lot. The first 20 minutes or so feel a little unfocused, but once it reaches the second act it starts to put things together and inches towards a climax that I found toThe marketing for this film was quite deceiving and I think hurt it quite a bit with general audiences, but I enjoyed it a lot. The first 20 minutes or so feel a little unfocused, but once it reaches the second act it starts to put things together and inches towards a climax that I found to be highly satisfying. Do not go into this film expecting a ton of action and aliens. The presence of the aliens is felt, but they are hardly ever seen. This is a low budget sci-fi thriller, and a damn good one at that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shpostal

Mar 16, 2019

Usually when a movie is released without much fanfare and a lack of critic reviews, it's a sign of a stinker. However, despite some negative reviews, "Captive State" is anything but a stinker. We get tired sure of dystopian futuristic societies, and alien movies any more are almostUsually when a movie is released without much fanfare and a lack of critic reviews, it's a sign of a stinker. However, despite some negative reviews, "Captive State" is anything but a stinker. We get tired sure of dystopian futuristic societies, and alien movies any more are almost as abundant as super hero movies. It's admittedly a tempting subject to portray an alien civilization however the studio wants, either ugly and benevolent, cutesy, or pure malevolent evil. This movie doesn't show too much of the aliens who have made humans on earth their subjects, but it's much more a believable pitch on the order of "District 9" as opposed to the insultingly stupid "Independence Day" films. We are made to draw conclusions, only to have them proven wrong. The pace is riveting and the film centers around two types of the captive world population: thoroughly ass kissing and pandering, including corrupt law enforcement in Chicago where this story takes place who take their orders from the "legislators", aka the hideous aliens, and brave people who are determined to fight back against both the aliens and the humans who choose a fate as captives, involving turncoats and spies everywhere, making the main thrust of the movie, an attack against their captors and people unwilling to rise up to regain their planet back. John Goodman is a great actor - totally believable and an ultimately sympathetic character. If there is one minor gripe, it's the short role by Vera Farmiga, one of the best actresses out there. Her talent is not utilized to its potential, but even the small role she plays is a critical one. Most of any possible plot loopholes are closed up in the final part of the movie, and the dramatic feel is top notch for a movie of this genre. Those panning "Captive State" are frankly, unfair. The pace doesn't allow for the massive "character development" they ask for. Then again, none is really needed that doesn't already present itself. The film is articulate, dynamic and nothing of the confusing or disappointing descriptions some reviewers have determined it to be. Just pay close attention.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

JoeCool

Jun 2, 2019

Interesting, but a little too messy to really be good. Ending is a bit weak. Nice try, just falls a bit short of the good stuff. Good for DVD, not really something you'd be happy to have seen in a theatre.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

PalpetineSheev

Mar 20, 2020

An extremely interesting idea with a very uneven pay off. It's well made for the most part, but it's also somewhat forgettable and nowhere near as good as it should have been.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

manningn15

Mar 19, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie was so boring that I had a hard time staying awake. I went into it thinking it was going to be a cool sci-fi alien action movie and it turned out to have like no action and barely showed the aliens. The acting was good it wasn't anything overly amazing but John Goodman did do a good job. This is probably my least favorite movie I have ever seen and I would never watch it again.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

real022

Jun 20, 2019

So bad.

It seems that some kid wrote the script, in that case it`s ok. Otherwise it is just stupid.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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