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Captivity (2007) DVD Review
Captivity (2007) DVD Credits:
Captivity (2007) Directed by:
Roland Joffé
Captivity (2007) Written by:
Larry Cohen
Captivity (2007) Cast:
Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Michael Harney
Captivity (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Captivity (2007) DVD Release Date:
29th October 2007
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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Captivity (2007) Synopsis:

The film is set in Manhattan and will feature Cuthbert as a fashion model who, along with a chauffeur, gets kidnapped and held in a small room by a serial killer. While the psycho methodically terrorizes them, the victims draw strength from each other and fall in love.

Captivity (2007) DVD Review:

There has been a recent trend in the horror genre to make films that depict people being brutalized and tortured for the perverse benefit of their captors. These films, dubbed “torture horror” or “torture porn,” made famous by Eli Roth’s “Hostel” and the “Saw” series are usually formulaic in their execution. These films feature gorgeous young Americans in an environment that is out of their normal element, often set in foreign countries as is the case with “Hostel,” “Turistas” and “Wolf Creek.” These films usually start off with partial or full nudity and debauchery, followed by graphic torture and mutilation, for example in “Hostel” a woman’s eye is burned out of her face with a blowtorch. These films have traditionally been fairly inexpensive to produce, causing profits to be remarkably high. This formula has led to a great deal of copycat films; films that have deliberately pigeon holed themselves into this genre, for better or for worse.

“Captivity,” by famed director, Roland Joffé (“The Killing Fields” and “The Mission”) regrettably fell victim to this trend. It is unfortunate because the film is better than a “Saw” or “Hostel.” “Captivity” enveloped itself in controversy from the get go with a violent and disturbing advertising campaign. This campaign was comprised of images of a woman bound and tortured. As a result complaints were made, and the ad campaign was cancelled. “Captivity” also faced adversary by way of the Motion Picture Association of America or MPAA, who refused to rate the film in a timely manner as punishment, thus pushing back the opening date.

The turmoil that this film faced can be seen in its success. First and foremost “Captivity” is more a “Kiss the Girls” or “Seven” type film than a true “torture porn.” While there is some gore on screen, it is not the over the top, gruesome for gruesome sake style of “Hostel” or “Saw.” Instead, the character Jennifer Tree, played by Elisha Cuthbert (“24” and “The Girl Next Door”) is stalked and kidnapped. She is repeatedly attacked in a more psychological manner through sensory deprivation, and being forced to watch other victims tortured. Jennifer soon finds hope when she discovers that she is not alone, there is a man being held in an adjoining room.

Even with the DVD release, the studio attempts to play into the idea that this film is too disturbing for the average viewer. “Captivity” was produced by After Dark Films, which created the “Films to Die For” Horror Festival, and the first preview starts off with a preview that states that: “Each year there are movies produced that are never seen by the public, their content is considered too graphic, too disturbing and too shocking for general audiences.” It is then followed by previews for some really low budget films that look as if they were shot with a consumer grade Mini-DV camera purchased from Best Buy on the day of the shoot. “Captivity” is a much better movie than the crowd it associates with.

With an 85 minute run time on the unrated version of the DVD, the action starts almost immediately. The film is presented in Widescreen with 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround sound and 6.1 DTS ES Surround. The special features are pretty standard fare with a “Making of” featurette, and a “Look on Set” featurette that gives a little insight into life on set for the actors and director. The DVD also includes two alternate endings, deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer.
All in all, do not be dissuaded by the poor advertising campaign for this movie, it is better than it appears.

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Captivity (2007) DVD review written by: Andrew Mattson

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