RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Captivity
Captivity

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Captivity (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
7 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:71

Fresh:5

Rotten:66

Average Rating:2.7/10

Consensus: Lacking scares or psychological insight, Captivity is a distasteful entry in the 'torture porn' subgenre.

Australian Rating: MA15+ [See Full Rating] Strong violence, Blood and gore

Runtime: 1 hr 38 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Australian Theatrical Release:
May 8, 2008 Wide

US Box Office: $2,626,800

Synopsis: Top cover girl and fashion model, Jennifer Tree (ELISHA CUTHBERT) has it all - beauty, fame, money and power. Her face appears on covers of hundreds of magazines. At the top of her game, Jennifer... Top cover girl and fashion model, Jennifer Tree (ELISHA CUTHBERT) has it all - beauty, fame, money and power. Her face appears on covers of hundreds of magazines. At the top of her game, Jennifer is America's sweetheart. She is loved and adored and sought after. Everyone wants her. But someone out there has been watching and waiting. Someone wants her in the worst way. Out alone at a charity event in Soho, Jennifer is drugged and taken. Held captive in a cell, Jennifer is subjected to a series of terrifying, life-threatening tortures that could only be conceived by a twisted, sadistic mind. Inspired by the fact that over 850,000 are reported missing every year in the United States, many of whom are never seen again, CAPTIVITY follows the story of one woman who is abducted and tortured, held against her will in a place where days turn into weeks. Her will to escape and survive is challenged every moment by a maniac's desire to demoralize innocent victims and play out his sick game that has been played many times before Jennifer was taken. A combination of SAW and HOSTEL meets SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, CAPTIVITY is a psychological thriller/horror film that shows us the true terror of the crimes of abduction and confinement that are committed every day by serial killers and psychopaths at large. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Roland Joffe (THE KILLING FIELDS, THE MISSION), CAPTIVITY delves deeply into the minds of both captor and victim with a fresh and terrifying view of this epidemic horror. Being released this summer in theatres nation-wide, CAPTIVITY has been called one of the most controversial films of the year. It's a disturbing and raw, yet classy and thought provoking film which will leave you terrified, and looking over your shoulder as you leave the theatre wondering if you could be next. --© After Dark Films [More]

Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Daniel Gillies

Starring: Elisha Cuthbert, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Daniel Gillies, Michael Harney, Mark Damon

Director: Roland Joffé

Director: Roland Joffé
Screenwriter: Larry Cohen, Joseph Tura
Producer: Mark Damon
Composer: Marco Beltrami
Studio: After Dark Films

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Captivity

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Without even calling into question the morals of a film which seems to exist only to depict the suffering of multiple women through hideous tortures, the film is still an empty mess, offering only a minor afterthought of an explanation to who is doing the

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
05/01/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Like Black Snake Moan, this is a film where poster campaign proves more provocative than content.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment 2 Comments
06/22/07
Total Film

It's not scary because not one second is believable.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
07/16/07
Andrea Gronvall
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader

Veteran writer Larry Cohen has shown a knack for claustrophobic thrillers (Phone Booth), but this tawdry effort is almost entirely lacking in stealth and suspense.

Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
06/22/07
Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Independent

The first audience member stood up when battery acid was about to be poured on a young girl’s face...

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
07/17/07
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
FilmStew.com

I never, ever imagined the experience of spending 80 minutes watching Elisha Cuthbert could be so punishing and vile.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
07/13/07
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
eFilmCritic.com

Only about twelve people you know are likely to ever see the film. Eleven will hate it. Avoid hanging out with the twelfth.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
07/13/07
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
UGO

Although shot with a modicum of style by a seriously slumming Roland Joffe... nothing terribly thrilling happens in this 'thriller.'

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
07/13/07
Chad Greene
Chad Greene
Boxoffice Magazine

a well-trotted mess

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
07/13/07
Chris Cabin
Chris Cabin
Filmcritic.com

There's no deeper significance, no clever mind game played on the audience, no commentary on violence. Frankly, it's kinda dull.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
07/14/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

What could have at least been a halfway decent house-of-horrors scary movie digresses into a puddle of fake blood in this stale little thriller that peaks when its resident baddie mixes a batch of eyeballs in an electric blender.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
07/26/07
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

The film itself is sordid, unpleasant viewing, as promised, yet more tedious than terrifying.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
07/13/07
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

It flunks because it’s one of the daftest, dullest films I’ve seen in an absolute age.

Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
06/22/07
David Edwards
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]

Larry Cohen, an experienced horror hand, wrote this, and Joffé does his best to keep the tension boiling up to a ridiculous climax. Even so, everybody involved should be ashamed of this nasty farrago.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
06/22/07
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

Some inventive individual moments aside, Captivity is off-puttingly derivative and clumsily written.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
07/14/07
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Courtney Solomon tried to polish the turd by adding some torture scenes, but all he did was make the turd turdier.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
07/13/07
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

It feels desperate from beginning to end, and is only offensive in that it presumes to be better than we think...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
07/15/07
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

What made the esteemed director of The Killing Fields and The Mission stoop to this is anybody's guess.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
07/13/07
Frank Scheck
Frank Scheck
Hollywood Reporter

Even worse than the movie's being torture-porn junk is the fact that it's also incredibly boring...as predictable as it is ugly and tedious.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
07/14/07
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Rarely have I found myself so uncomfortable viewing anything over such an extended period of time. There's nothing redeemable here. It's not tense or scary; it's just demented.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
07/14/07
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
all

Latest News for Captivity

January 22, 2008: I Know Who Killed Me, Norbit, Daddy Day Camp Lead Razzie Noms
No awards season -- even a strike-tainted one -- would be complete without the Razzies, right? Of course not. And that's why we've thoughtfully assembled all of this year's... More...

December 19, 2007: MPAA Rejects Taxi to the Dark Side Poster
The poster submitted by ThinkFilm for Taxi to the Dark Side -- the Alex Gibney documentary opening January 11 -- has been rejected by the MPAA. More...

August 09, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Chan and Tucker Back in Action
Another wide assortment of summer offerings will hit the multiplexes across North America this weekend. The action-comedy sequel Rush Hour 3 leads the way as the main course and... More...

July 20, 2007: Larry Cohen Plans Remakes of It's Alive, Black Caesar, and The Stuff
Long before he wrote movies like "Phone Booth," "Cellular," and (ugh) "Captivity," filmmaker Larry Cohen was making horror movies about killer babies. And (guess what?) he just... More...

See All

More DVDs

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
36% 36% Angels & Demons
68% 68% Funny People
25% 25% Four Christmases
45% 45% Shorts

More New Releases…

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Kids' Book Films

Kids' Book Films

We fly through 10 of the best

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
51
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
128
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
181
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
92
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
77
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
77
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
70
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
45
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
22
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
17
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Total Recall: Children's Book Adaptations
3
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Captivity at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Captivity at IGN
  • Captivity at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Win tickets to Cold Souls
Win tickets to Cold Souls External Link

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.