Kidnapped DVD review

            Kidnapped is a brutal and often unrelenting in its more graphic images. It is a story of undeniable power because of the fear it can strike in all of us. What Kidnapped doesn’t have is any original moments. The plot has been done numerous times, from both versions of Funny Games to Joel Schumacher’s Trespass. The graphic images have also already been seen, in Irreversible and numerous others since. So while Kidnapped is a brutal and unrelenting film, it is also not as enjoyable as any of the films which it resembles.

            The film begins with the routine of a family as they move into their new home. Jaime and his wife Marta are busy with the details while their teenage daughter Ilsa is only concerned with going out with her boyfriend. This is the exact same plot as Trespass, only the family is renovating rather than moving. The move allows for several strangers to be inside of their new home, and it comes as no surprise when they are invaded and taken hostage later that evening. Held hostage in their own home, the family must struggle to stay alive. The invaders only want money, but their plan is not too clear. Soon things fall apart and violence erupts, with family members pitted against violent criminals.

             Though the journey bored me and the final resolution disgusted me, there are some technical achievements within this film worth mentioning. In particular there is one sequence which joins a split screen between two separate characters and it is pure poetry to watch. After this moment, I desperately wanted to like Kidnapped, but found myself completely turned off by the ending. The filmmakers got the effective response, but I did not enjoy it. The DVD includes a trailer gallery and a making of featurette.