Loki the detective

Rating: 7/10 (25 January 2014)

I knew so little about this film before I watched it, I really thought at first it would be a Prison movie! The title is a metaphor.
Prisoners has shades of Mystic River. It starts during the holidays in a small working town community where two young girls disappear believed to be abducted or worse.
A suspect is found and later released by the police. One of the parent abducts and systematically tortures him.
Meanwhile the detective assigned to the case methodically works the case and realises that this case may have links to the past.
The film is long, harrowing in places and builds a lot of tension but it keeps you glued to the screen, that is no mean feat.
It may have flaws with some convenient coincidences as well as some red herrings to keep you off track.
Hugh Jackman is the father who takes the law into his own hands, aided by a more reluctant Terrence Howard who is the father of the other child that has been abducted.
Jackman is the religious, hard working every-man whose raw anger threatens to tip him over the edge.
Jake Gyllenhaal stands out with his tattoos as the methodical Detective Loki, he is more smarter than he looks.
Roger Deakins moody cinematography adds a lot of atmosphere to this film which is very well acted by its ensemble cast.