Catch Hell

When I viewed this movie it was named "Chained".

It is a drama thriller about a Hollywood actor with a declining career who is kidnapped by thugs and held locked up in a remote cabin....

I thought the lead players all give full throttle performances including the baddies and the film is mostly compelling and well presented.

The very last sequence I found a little bit odd but despite that I was impressed with this picture and Ryan Phillippe is not someone who I had noticed before but he certainly has star quality:

7/10.

Ryan Phillippe's directorial debut 'Catch Hell' is a strange little movie. It's an interesting story that never really goes anywhere. The plot never really advances. And Phillippe in the lead role is never really given any opportunity to shine. He co-wrote the story as well so this surprised me. Surely when you write a character that you know you're going to play you give yourself every opportunity to be the star of the show, but this was never really the case. The kidnappers had the most interesting characters of the lot.

It's not an overly bad movie, it's just simply pretty forgettable. There's no element to it that separates it from the bunch. Does Phillippe have a future behind the camera? I don't see why not. This film would have been about as straight forward as they come to direct, but I still didn't see any glaring mistakes he made. The choice of the scene over the credits was a bizarre one for me. I'm not sure exactly what he was going for with that and I'd love to hear his explanation. Give it a look if you're short of something to watch but otherwise you're not missing a whole lot.

An amazing thing about Catch Hell is how unexpectedly *watchable* it is. I really figured it wouldn't have staying power, yet it coaxed me in.

Others have commented on the film's modest strengths, which are; decent writing, good acting, good pacing (the scenes that seek to capture the long waiting of a hostage situation like this don't feel interminable), good (if elemental) character development, good editing, interesting scenario.

And, amazingly, the final scene (which ingeniously plays over the end credits) struck me as a profound redemption tour-de-force. Rarely have I seen such a cosmic message writ so bizarrely. I can think of one other example, off the top of my head, that comes close. And, when I say "redemption", I don't mean the redemption of a person. I really mean the redemption of this film from being a mere low-rent action/horror snack. I'm sincere about this: It says an important thing about the nature of grace; that you might encounter some at the very bottom of a very deep, very dark pit.

Worth watching, even if only because you're fascinated by the promise of smart low-budget stylizing.

Morality tales are always difficult. Going after the whole fame makes one vulnerable thing too. Put "crazy fans" into it and you get something weird like this. And all that with one of the worst plans (if any) in recent memory. Things can go sideways and they will especially if you haven't really thought about them.

Don't get me wrong, there are quite a few scenes that are difficult to watch, because they are brutal and you feel the pain just watching. Nothing that is exciting or fun in any way. Thankfully it doesn't stay on that track too much. Not the kind of movies I like to watch anyway, this lacks a bit of empathy. Ryan Phillipe might feel at "home" (no pun intended) with some of the scenarios (job and fame wise that is), but this won't help him get back on any Hollywood radar any time soon

Wondering how come this has under 2k voters in over 4 months since the release.

Maybe the script is not something new, but this is the case with almost everything nowadays. However, the way how the things are presented and the acting level is notable.

The situation is simple and one young actor is trapped into a scam for doing a new film, things ending up with him being a prisoner. But from an initial ignorance and the 'stars attitude' he is going to transform himself and to experience a new reality, of being afraid, insecure, hurt and even losing his 'image' for the outside world.

Ryan Phillippe is putting a great effort in impersonating all these emotions, while on the dark side, you will get a good acting level from both kidnappers.