(detailed information about this entry from Wikipedia)
Captivity is a 2007 thriller film directed by Roland Joffe. It was released in the United Kingdom, Spain and Argentina on June 22, and in the United States on July 13.
The career of young fashion model and cover girl Jennifer Tree (Elisha Cuthbert) has taken off in New York City, capturing the attention of photographers and for better or worse, the public at large. On an evening out alone, Jennifer is stalked and drugged. She wakens in a stupor to find herself captive, confined to a cell.
A series of metal bins and numbered lockers randomly and abruptly swing open containing personal items taken from her apartment. She is forced to view videotapes containing images of tortured victims before her as well as videotaped interviews she had given in the past. Trapped, realizing there is no way out, Jennifer pleads and screams to anyone that might hear her. During her confinement, she is subjected to varied forms of psychological and sensory torture.
Jennifer eventually finds she is not alone. Gary (Daniel Gillies), a young man, is being held captive in an adjoining cell. The two make contact and try to find out why they are being held.
After watching the horrific scene, they find their way out. A fight ensues between Gary and the captor.
After having sex, Gary awakens to find Jennifer, who has been drugged once again. He leaves the cell. Gary and his elder brother Ben are the captors. He joins his brother in the kitchen making sushi.
Gary is falling for Jen. Ben smacks Gary. Ben puts something in the fridge. When he turns around Gary stabs him. A while later Gary is watching the same tape from earlier.
Gary is seen reviewing a series of pictures in album shortly before hearing a knock at the door. At the sound of knocks, he quickly rushes and puts the albums in a cabinet. He slams the cabinet's door, but doesn't realize it didn't close. The knock at the door are two detectives looking for Ben. Gary says "he's not here." The detectives enter the house, getting comfortable and asking to watch a big sports game on TV. One of them flips the channel to the surveillance video of Jennifer sleeping. Right at that point, Gary comes out and shoots both of them.
He runs down to where Jennifer is being held and says "I killed them. Let's go". He places Jennifer in a room and says "stay here." One of the detectives jumps out at her but she bashes him with a bat, believing him to be one of her captors. Jennifer begins viewing the albums. Gary is in all of them. While viewing the albums, Ben shows he's still alive and jumps out at her. However, she stops him by pushing the knife in further.
After viewing the albums, Jennifer hears the detective's pager rings and she goes through his personal belongings. Gary is seen recording Jennifer and claims she belongs to him. She tricks him and sprays ammonia in his eyes before running off.
On her way she cuts a series of wires and electrical cords, preventing doors, code entries, and lights from working. Jennifer picks up a flashlight and the gun used on the detectives. She then shoots him in the heart and exits the room. She leaves the house, and the last scene shows posters of Jennifer's new film, DARE.
[edit] Advertising controversy
Several controversial images depicting promotional scenes from the film were released by After Dark Films in Los Angeles and New York where they were shown on billboards and taxicabs. The advertisement consisted of pictures involving the kidnapping, torture, and presumable murder of a female character. Offended witnesses soon filed complaints to After Dark, who claimed error and explained that the concept was only one of several working ideas that were being considered for marketing to the general public. According to Courtney Solomon, who spoke on behalf of After Dark, it was not supposed to have been approved, he followed by saying "To be honest with you, I don't know where the confusion happened and who's responsible."[1]
"This film was done in association with After Dark Films. The nature of the association allows After Dark autonomy over their marketing materials, and therefore we neither saw nor approved this billboard before it was posted," said Peter Wilkes, head of Lionsgate investor relations. "Once aware of the materials and the reaction to them, we immediately asked After Dark to remove the billboards, to which they immediately and cooperatively responded."
Joss Whedon has become the public face of a movement directed at the MPAA to remove the film's rating, in accordance with MPAA guidelines that state that any film that uses advertising that has not been approved by the MPAA (in this case, the advertising was specifically disapproved) will possibly forfeit their right to be rated. According to writer Jill Soloway, who runs the website Remove the Rating, Solomon himself was responsible for the ads in question, going over the design in extreme detail, and is thus being disingenuous in the above-cited quote.[2] The MPAA issued a ruling dated March 28, 2007, which said that, as punishment, it would not consider rating the film until at least April 30, making the release date of May 18 less likely (releasing the film "unrated" would greatly impact its potential to sell tickets). The MPAA is also, in an unprecedented move, requiring that they approve the placement of all forthcoming advertisements for the film.[3]
[edit] Dramatic Editing
After Dark Films founder and present head Courtney Solomon went back to edit the original concept of Captivity to add more gore and violence to please the American audience. In a statement, Solomon is believed to state that he felt the film was not gruesome enough for a mainstream "torture porn" [4]. Though he felt the change would bring in more money for the film after noticing the success of Hostel, it in fact marked the end of torture porn horror and the film tanked at the box office. Solomon later released a statement saying "It's overkill, I think audiences have said, 'I've had enough.' It's as simple as that."[5] The original version of Captivity was only released in Spain, Argentina and The United Kingdom.
[edit] Critical reception and box office
Captivity opened on Friday, July 13 to negative reviews. Online critic James Berardinelli gave it a zero star rating, stating that there is "nothing redeemable here. It's not tense or scary; it's just demented".[6] Also, many reviewers have noted the striking similarities to films like Saw and Hostel.
BOX OFFICE:
The DVD is expected to be released on October 30, 2007 with a widescreen unrated version, and the original R-rated version. It will have a making-of featurette and an on-the-set look of the film. The cover has the 8 Films to Die For logo on it, despite the film not being present for the limited release film festival.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Captivity (2007) 
Captivity (2007)
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