Intense gripping thriller!

Rating: 10/10 (1 December 2016)

I recently saw this movie without any prior knowledge of what I was getting into, and the experience I must say was truly rewarding. Its very rare to see such dark movies made these days. Credit must me given to the director Denis Villeneuve for making such a masterpiece!
The character of Jake Gyllenhall is very convincing as a detective. His eye movements, sharp sentences, dark clothes, all convey a sense of authority and purpose. Even in his confrontations with Jackman, he stands out as the one with the logical arguments. Hugh Jackman could be regarded as the main star of the movie. His role as a kidnapped girl's daughter is just astounding. The tough, but considerate father who'll do anything to find her daughter and wouldn't sit back, is very well portrayed. Paul Dano as a kid 'with an I.Q. of a ten-year old' doesn't for a second lets you take your eyes off of him. You do feel bad for the torture he's being made to undergo, but deep inside you know that he is a culprit and definitely knows something about the location of the girls. Terrence Howard's role stands out like a candle in darkness, serving to remind you of your moral conscience, but his wife is there to counter him. The acting by other characters is also very convincing. The location setting, the weather conditions, the dressing style, all add up in maintaining a grim atmosphere.
I would also like to salute the work of Jóhann Jóhannsson, who produced a gripping and tense score for the movie. It just seeps into the background and hits you hard all of a sudden when something major is revealed. Just wonderful!
I would strongly recommend movie lovers to go for this movie.