This Marvel star’s performance as a desperate father in the harrowing 2013 thriller is considered by many to be his best and is now available to watch on Netflix
One of the most gripping thrillers of the 21st Century has made a return to Netflix, offering the perfect escape for those not quite in the mood for festive joy.
Boasting an A-list ensemble, it’s a star famous for his portrayal of a cherished Marvel hero who anchors the movie and delivers an unparalleled performance.
The tension-filled narrative kicks off with the kidnapping of two young girls on Thanksgiving, leading to the arrest of a suspect. But when the lead detective discovers the suspect’s limited mental capacity, he’s released, deemed incapable of the crime.
Yet, the father of one of the abducted children remains convinced that the man knows something and decides to take justice into his own hands, detaining and torturing the suspect for answers.
Helmed by Denis Villeneuve, now renowned for his work on the Dune saga, Prisoners is an essential watch for those chilly winter nights – after the little ones are tucked in, reports the Express.
Hugh Jackman, fresh from his ninth outing as Wolverine, embodies the role of the relentless father Keller Dover, channeling a fury reminiscent of his celebrated portrayal of the fierce mutant.
Esquire hailed his turn as “Hugh Jackman’s most captivating role”, stating: “In Prisoners, you watch Jackman go there and then keep going, not stopping until he too is a… prisoner of his own making.”
Collider concurred that Jackman delivered his finest performance in the 2013 thriller, stating: “Jackman remains one of the few comic book movie actors to practically own a character as intensely as Wolverine. However, Jackman’s best acting role exists outside any cinematic universe, and still taps into the rage that Wolverine is known for.
“The ferocity of Keller Dover, a desperate man who feels as though he truly has nothing to lose in the pursuit of retrieving his child, brings an even more grounded and compelling anger out of Jackman which is equal parts sympathetic and terrifying.”
Prisoners has garnered a legion of followers among both casual viewers and hardcore cinephiles, all of whom agree that the nerve-wracking thriller wouldn’t be the same without Jackman’s powerful portrayal.
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A Reddit user confessed: “I wouldn’t consider him one of my favorite actors of all time. But I enjoy every performance I’ve ever seen him do. Prisoners takes the cake by far for me.
“His performance from the very first scene to the last is captivating. He has raw emotions that make me forget I’m watching someone act. In the moments when his character is at wits end, I feel it.
“Literally makes the hair on my arm raise. His range in this movie alone is something I haven’t seen in some actors’ entire career. How he didn’t get an Oscar for this is beyond me.”
The movie also showcases outstanding performances from other cinematic icons such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis and Terrence Howard, with Paul Dano portraying Keller’s tormented captive.
Prisoners is available to stream on Netflix.