Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

There have been no shortage of home invasion films over the past few years – from Michael Haneke’s Funny Games, to Ils (released as Them here in the States), to The Strangers, one thing remains pretty clear: we’re terrified of being attacked in our own homes.

For a horror film, it makes sense to attack an audience where they live (literally). If the art of horror cinema is taking the safe and subverting it – creating universal scenarios and instilling them with equal measures of dread and abject terror – then the home invasion movies are potentially the pinnacle of the form. The only problem is, the idea is rather limiting as a whole. There’s only so much horror that can happen in the home.

Such is the problem facing Miguel Angel Vivas’ Kidnapped (known as Secuestrados in Spanish). Vivas’ film hits all the expected notes of the subgenre and couples it with a level of technical mastery that is at times breathtaking, but there’s a feeling of familiarity covering the entire production like a shroud. It’s as if we’ve seen this all before – and as such, many of the film’s visceral body blows are lessened significantly.

Jaime (Fernando Cayo), Marta (Ana Wagener), and Isa (Maneula Velles) are a family moving into a luxurious new house somewhere in the suburbs. Dad Jaime is the laid back one, while wife Marta keeps the house running. Daughter Isa is the ever-present annoying teenager. They’re settling into their new digs when a trio of masked men break in through a bedroom window and take the family hostage. What follows is a portrait of torture, degradation, and a fight for survival as the family tries to escape the clutches of their captors.

Vivas’ film has all the earmarkings of a classic. The direction is astounding, featuring a series of extended takes that are so well implemented that the viewer tends to notice them mostly on a subliminal level. While lots of films have utilized the long take format, it usually feels at least a little gimmicky and distracts the audience as they watch for the cuts. Such is not the case here – the extended shots are conceived and shot in a way that’s impressive but never obtrusive.

That same principle applies to most of the film’s technical accomplishments. Kidnapped is something of a masterclass in filmmaking. Vivas captures the mood and menace of the film perfectly – he’s a mixture of artist and clinician, capturing the violence of the film in a disturbingly beautiful way that never flinches from the unpleasantries.

This makes it all the more disappointing that the film’s script is by the numbers. Kidnapped doesn’t do much of anything we haven’t seen in other films of this kind. Vivas doesn’t play with narrative in the same way Haneke did (although his use of split-screen is pretty inspired) and the violence, while harrowing, is nothing overly original.

Compounding the issue are the film’s antagonists – three masked men who are little more than caricatures. There’s the methodical one, the one in over his head when things get crazy, and the loose cannon. Really, that’s all the more character development any of them get. It’s a gigantic missed opportunity, since many of the films in this subgenre succeed thanks to their memorable villains.

The main cast, particularly Fernando Cayo, is great. Cayo really nails the anguished father part – he’s powerless to help his family and save them from this horrific situation. Watching him plead with their captors at various points is heart-wrenching. A scene where he does everything in his power to avoid looking at his captor’s exposed face (because he fears it ensure his death if he knows what his captors look like) is powerful stuff.

Unfortunately, the performances can’t overcome the script issues – and not even the film’s ending can completely save things. These sorts of films tend to go one of two ways – and while Kidnapped’s ending isn’t a surprise, it is still effective. Vivas has the technical chops to make amazing films – but to reach the next level, he’s going to have to find a script that’s equal to his abilities with a camera. Kidnapped is not a bad film – it’s just one that struggles to distinguish itself from the countless other home invasion films out there. If you’re new to the subgenre, it has a lot to offer – but there are other, better films available that are more worthy of your time.

Finally, avoid the dubbed version at all costs. Having seen both the subtitled and dubbed versions of Kidnapped, I can assure you that some of the power of the performances is lost in what is at best a mediocre dub job. Trying to voice over foreign actors who’re expressing a wide range of powerful emotions is a recipe for disaster in the best of circumstances, and Kidnapped’s dubbed version is not even remotely up to the task.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day