The film Prisoners had it all. Once you think you have things figured out and feel like you should take over Gyllenhaal’s role because you’re one step ahead of him, things take a turn and you feel like you’re back at square one.

The story follows Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) in rural Pennsylvania looking for his lost daughter Anna and her friend, Joy Birch, who went missing on Thanksgiving night. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) immediately jumps on the case to find the missing girls and soon discovers dark secrets hidden away by the town citizens for many years. One by one the twists and turns start to unfurl.

Jackman immersed himself into the role of a father who is willing to go to any lengths to find his daughter. His acting was superb.

This is another one of his great performances, and I would not be surprised if he’s nominated for another Academy Award.

The rawness of his performance showing his emotions of grief, despair, anger, and desperation will make you feel as if this was not a film being seen but instead seeing what a father would do if he felt that the law was not doing enough to find his child.

Gyllenhaal showed how deep he can get into a role. His presence in the film showed power and desperation as a detective who had solved every case he had been on. His part in this role is what made the film outstanding.

Prisoners could not have been brought to life the way it was without Academy Award nominee Canadian director Denis Villeneuve. This was his American film debut. He gave a different perspective on abductions. He made every scene count, leading to the unexpected. The cinematography and the film’s score resonate with you long after the film is over.

The film also stars Paul Dano, Terrance Howard, Maria Bello, Violet Davis, and Melissa Leo. Each gave a strong performance that should be praised.

Even though the story is fiction, the atrocities committed in this film happen in real life and will strike a chord with anyone with children. The film reflects and dramatizes the horror and haunting memories parents go through with abducted children.

This film is a must-see!