Catch Hell

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.

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.

Based on the negative reviews, I almost didn't get this movie. But after renting it from Redbox and figuring that besides losing my time, it wouldn't hurt to lose a $1.50 so I took the "risk". I'm glad I did. Not only was it entertaining all the way throughout the movie, it was really good to be Ryan Phillippe's first crack at directing. Don't forget that he also wrote AND starred in it!

Despite the majority of the movie only revolving around three characters, there were some funny parts associated with the typical stereotypes of people in the Louisiana bayou but I would definitely recommend you see this movie and not just out of boredom. Go rent it.

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.

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.