Great performances help to free 'Prisoners' from its clichés

Rating: 7/10 (22 January 2014)

There's really nothing particularly exceptional about the story or the script for 'Prisoners', but in the hands of a director who uses expertly applied minimalism and an extraordinarily talented cast, it becomes a compelling tale about love, faith and how quickly hard lines can become blurred in the face of tragedy.
The final act undermines this somewhat with its tonally incongruent Hollywood twists and turns that seem like they were spliced in from a different film, but ultimately 'Prisoners' is still a gripping and gut-wrenching tale that will likely stay with you long after the credits roll.