Captivity (2007)

A man and a woman awaken to find themselves captured in a cellar. As their kidnapper drives them psychologically mad, the truth about their horrific abduction is revealed.

Director:

Roland Joffé

Writers:

Larry Cohen (screenplay), Joseph Tura (screenplay),

Stars:

Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, Pruitt Taylor Vince

4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Elisha Cuthbert	...	Jennifer
Daniel Gillies	...	Gary Dexter
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Ben Dexter
Michael Harney	...	Det. Bettiger
Laz Alonso	...	Det. Ray Di Santos
Maggie Damon	...	Detective Susan Luden
Carl Paoli	...	Victim #1
Trent Broin	...	Victim #2

Storyline

Top cover girl and fashion model, Jennifer Tree has it all - beauty, fame, money and power. Her face appears on covers of hundreds of magazines. At the top of her game, Jennifer is America's sweetheart. She is loved and adored and sought after. Everyone wants her. But someone out there has been watching and waiting. Someone 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. It follows the story of one woman who is abducted and tortured, held against her will in a place where days turn into weeks.

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Plot Keywords:

torture | drugged | escape | model | cellar | 

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Taglines:

Time Is Running Out...

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, torture, pervasive terror, grisly images, language and some sexual material

Details

Official Sites:

Lionsgate [us] TFM [fr]

Country:

USA Russia

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 July 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

El sótano

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,429,100 (USA) (13 July 2007)

Gross:

$2,626,800 (USA) (27 July 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Captivity Productions, Foresight Unlimited, Russian American Movie Company (RAMCO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was heavily re-shot to turn it from a thriller to a torture/horror film. This is extremely evident in Elisha Cuthbert's hairstyle. It changes throughout the movie. In the first shoot her hair was more of a shag style, while in the re-shoot it is all one length. Her hair often changes in the middle of scenes (e.g. running from one room with a shag style but entering the next room with different hairstyle.)

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Goofs

After Jennifer opens locker #4, she puts on the dress and some make-up. Including the blood-red lip-gloss. A second later when she gets into Gary's Room there is no lip-gloss at all.

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Quotes

Gary: You belong to me.
Jennifer Tree: Yea.
Gary: Show me.

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Connections

References Dexter (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Paper Doll"
Written by Johnny Black
Performed by Dave Van Norden
Produced by Martin Blasick
Courtesy of Lavish Music

User Reviews

Stunning visuals save a troubled script

What Captivity lacks in innovation it makes up for in style. Say what you will about plot holes and struggling performances, but the film looks beautiful, sounds great, and the atmosphere of the film will stay with you. Elisha Cuthbert's character is shallow, but appropriately so, as a naive fashion model who, even while in the deepest pit of misfortune, doesn't quite grasp what's going on. She keeps close to her teddy bear, apologizes for no apparent reason, and cries single tears... never ceasing to look picture perfect. (This is one gripe I have with the film. The leading lady should show a little more wear and tear, in my opinion.) I understand that the writer of Captivity claims to have based the character on Paris Hilton, and while I don't entirely believe that that's what the film was aiming for, it's an interesting comparison. In light of Hilton's recent incarceration, it's also a bit of commentary, however unintentional, on our culture's fascination with celebrities, the desire to be close to them, and to possess a piece of them.

The looming, black gloved torturer is a smidge cliché, but it does the trick. It's a genre film, and certain symbols are to be expected and forgiven. Again, the set and sound design are spot-on, and that carries a lot of weaker areas through to the end.

The editing is very choppy, due in part to the fact that a large portion of the original movie was removed and replaced with new material shot long after the original version ended production. The result is a cut-and-paste appearance which actually works quite well, given all the time Cuthbert's character spends going in and out of consciousness. It's almost an art film effect, hypnotic and disorienting.