Film review: The Captive – Atom Egoyan's child abduction thriller is sadistic and exploitative

June 07,2024

Director has made subtle, moving films about suffering, but this isn’t one. Nasty for the sake of it, this misguided work emotionally humiliates its characters in a B-movie plot more suited to TV.
First published in 1903, South China Morning Post is Hong Kong’s premier English language newspaper and has the city’s most affluent and influential readership. With a reputation for authoritative, influential and independent reporting on Hong Kong and China. The newspaper is supported with its online publication and its Sunday edition, Sunday Morning Post..
revels in its own nastiness and makes for a highly unpleasant watch. Filmmakers should not shy away from making films about difficult subjects like child abuse, but Atom Egoyan’s sole intent is to emotionally humiliate his characters. A by-the-numbers plot that’s more suited to a run-of-the-mill television drama fails to elevate matters above simple B-movie exploitation fare.