Solos en la oscuridad

excerpt - How many times can a familiar plot be rehashed and remade before audiences tire of it? Formulaic retreads of stories we've seen a thousand times before clutter the cinema listings, and lack of originality is something we lament. With that in mind, Manuel Angel Vivas has charged himself with the task of breathing new life into the age-old idea of a family being held hostage in their own home. But does his conceptual staging and technical expertise make for a compelling picture or a triumph of style over substance?

Kidnapped is an easy film to admire, but a difficult one to like. All the gimmicks and trickery in the world can't disguise the fact that once the technical wizardry has been stripped away it is a pretty standard thriller. As an experience, it is unforgettable. Sadly, that experience as akin to being relentlessly bludgeoned. Hopefully, Vivas will return next time with a story which matches his undoubted skill.

Just when you thought that this types of movies (that Kidnapped is a part of), might have run dry, fresh blood comes and makes things interesting again (no pun intended). I'm not the biggest fan of those movies since an Austrian took the "Funny" (Games) out of it. But this Spanish effort has a lot going for it.

I liked the actors, I liked the fact that it "went places", that made it different. And while I didn't think it was perfect, the tension it builds (with simple premises) and the fact, that it stays as real as possible (but is still very violent) all build up to an exciting climax. Though I guess that might also be called one of its weakest points, by those who didn't like the movie

The home invasion film is a well worn thriller trope, so well worn that any new entry really needs to bring something new to the table or make a harsh mark to leave any kind of a lasting effect. Miguel Angel Vivas' Kidnapped does both of these, and I can see it being a big hit for those who like their thriller cinema to really punch them out. First the something new, Kidnapped is filmed entirely in long takes, apparently 12 in all, capturing action with unblinking intensity and sometimes moving to split screen to show both sides of a particularly intense event. From the start its a great idea, leaving no room for escape or distraction, the focus is as tight as can be. And when the luckless family at the heart of the film are settling into their first day at a new home, unpacking, going through standard family arguments the camera weaves amongst them, we explore their house as they do, we become in these parts a part of their lives, things have the feel of a documentary. Performances are happily spot on, Fernando Cayo the consummate family man trying to keep everything cool and under control, Ana Wagener the stressed, more tired out mother and Manuela Veles standard issue daughter trying to go her own way. These are stock characters through and through, yet they work in echoing a timeless reality to evoke our sympathy. When vicious thieves break in, their hell becomes ours just as their earlier peace became ours and the intensity is genuinely gruelling, both actresses get put through the ringer in effectively harsh fashion and all their screams and crying become after a while really quite emotionally draining. I think the film loses a little bit for its predictability, the villains have a standard loose cannon, the hostages make various efforts to escape of varying success, there are certainly bits where we wish they would do something different, the film goes through standard motions for the typical, albeit very much heightened response. And thats why the film works so much, its incredibly intense, towards the end near heartbreakingly so, and for all that I can say I wish it was gorier (it does have nasty violence though) or more exploitative or weirder, fact is I found it an absolutely astounding ride. Highly recommended, one of the best films I've seen in a while.

Tension, suspense, and unsettling scenes when a family is harassed by some dangerous criminals . Three hooded Eastern-European delinquents burst into a gated community home on the outskirts of Madrid , and forcing the father to empty his credit cards. This exciting movie deals about Jaime (Fernando Cayo of ¨23F¨) and Marta (Ana Wagener), a mature marriage with a daughter (Manuela Velles of ¨Caotica Ana¨ by Julio Medem) who holds her usual youth problems . At home they are trapped and locked by an ominous band (Barrientos , Biba, Kupier) . The family is besieged and terrorized by the psycho-killer attackers and then look for some means to getaway .

This spooky picture about some criminals holding the family hostage in its own home contains terror, shocks, suspense, grisly killings and numerous creepy scenes . The film packs terrifying and hair-raising frames and lots of blood and gore . This violent story is filmed in similar naturalist and realist style to ¨Michael Hanake's Funny Games¨, ¨Henry, portrait of a killer¨ , directed by James McNaughton and ¨Rec¨ by Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza . Shot in 12 takes with camera over shoulder and Steadicam , including splitting screen . While the look is suitable eerie and frightening, the argument spreads to the breaking point and the ending turns out to be a little frustrating . Suspenseful and thrilling musical score by Sergio Moure (Unconscious). Dark and shaded cinematography by Pedro Marquez , shot in Las Rozas , Madrid. The motion picture is strangely directed by Miguel Angel Vivas , an expert on rare atmosphere as he also proved in ¨Reflejos(2002)¨ with George Corraface , Ana Fernandez and Emilio Gutierrez Caba . It's a strong film and quite a big impact, gaining several prizes as ¨Austin Fantastic Festival¨ won Horror Jury Prize Best Director Miguel Ángel Vivas and Best Horror Feature ; ¨Bogota Film Festival¨, Nominated Golden Precolumbian Circle Best Film Miguel Ángel Vivas and ¨Camerimage¨ prizes . In spite of its violence ¨Kidnapped¨ or ¨Secuestrados¨ achieved undoubted success and important reputation .

Three hooded Eastern-European criminals burst into a home in a Madrid gated community, holding the family hostage in its own home, and forcing the father to empty his credit cards.

The opening scene is creepy and disturbing, with visuals somehow reminiscent of "Timecrimes". While the two films are worlds apart, this just sets the tone for how disturbing everything will be. And "disturbing" is the operative word, as home invasion is the most disturbing horror subgenre because of its realism.

A successful home invasion film feels real, feels like something that could really happen to any of us at any time. It is not a killer in the woods or an alien, but real criminals that can beat, kill or rape us on a whim. Such situations are rare (thankfully), but all too possible. This is, by the way, a successful one, right up there with the best (such as "Funny Games").

The biggest complaint is that there is some poor dubbing at times, especially on the daughter. But if the film is watched in Spanish with subtitles, such a nuisance can be avoided.