Encurralados

When their happy lifestyle is suddenly interrupted and turned upside down by the forceful intrusion of a menacing kidnapper (Brosnan), Abby and Neil (Bello and Butler) are left with no choice but to follow the increasingly difficult demands and tests set them by this man. It's edge-of-the-seat stuff most of the way, with plenty of twists and turns and even when you get to that stage where you think you know all the answers, something else catches you off guard. The three leading actors all provide sound performances in this intelligent, edgy little thriller, with Brosnan proving yet again, because a lot of people seem not to have realised it before, that he really can act.

A normal married couple's life (Gerard Butler and Maria Bello) is thrown into turmoil when their daughter is kidnapped and the kidnapper (Pierce Brosnan) put's them through a series of brutal challenges and horrible experience, threatening to kill their daughter if they don't pass every challenge.

This is a gripping thrill ride that constantly makes you think what YOU would do in this situation and question why it's happening. There are very few clues throughout the movie as to why they have been specifically targeted by the kidnapper and there are a few roller-coaster twists at the end that are jaw-dropping.

It's a psychological thriller of note, with never-ending suspense. This is the problem. It's a constant torrent of "what are they going to do". It never relents nor gives a moment to breath. Consequently you become frustrated and irritated that the movie doesn't give you any answers. Eventually you're just waiting to find out what happens, rather than holding onto the edge of your seat.

Ultimately it lacks the balance of suspense versus relief of similar kidnap thrillers like Mel Gibson's Ransom. The suspense just turns to irritation However this film is well worth watching if you want a no-nonce thriller that requires little thinking on your part and don't mind that half the movie takes place in a car due to the small budget.

Abby (Maria Bello) and Neil Randall (Gerard Butler) seems to be the perfect couple in Chicago with a lovely daughter. He's climbing the corporate ladder. Neil is going to spend the weekend with his boss. Abby is going to see her sister Diane. They hire Helen Schriver from the agency to babysit Sophie for the night. On the drive to Diane, mysterious Tom Ryan (Pierce Brosnan) comes out of the backseat with a gun and news that Helen has already kidnapped their child. He starts telling them what to do like withdrawing all their cash but he throws it all into the river. He tells them to do what they're told for 24 hours and they'll have their girl back.

There is a lot of unnecessary breathlessness and yelling overacting. It's all intended to raise the tension, but it's too much of a movie thing. Gerard Butler is pushing too hard. His energy diffuses the tension rather than raise it. Quiet anger would be so much more effective. Pierce Brosnan and Maria Bello are a little better. He does menace well and she's the loving wife. This has the potential for a good 3-person morality play, but director Mike Barker works overtime to pump up the artificial thrills. I was interested in the mystery of the true nature of the story, but I didn't particularly care about the people. The twist ending is fine but it needed a few more breadcrumbs laid out along the way. More hints about the ending would have made the ending more compelling.

I had heard about this movie from a friend who knows that I love Thrillers so I decided to rent it and check it out. Butterfly on a Wheel (also known as Shattered) was a pretty decent thriller with a twist that puts the pieces together as far as motive goes followed by another twist which one may or may not see as superfluous and unnecessary. I personally, liked both and this movie satisfied my Thriller needs..

Abby (Bello) and Neil (Butler) Randall are a happily married couple with a young daughter, Sophie. She is a stay at home Mother who wants to recapture her love of photography and he is a successful businessman who seems to be the go to Boss's man when it comes to sealing deals and landing accounts. The boss has invited Randall on a personal trip and Abby is hopeful that he may offer him partner. Meanwhile, Abby is going out with a friend for the evening and gets a babysitter for Sophie since she and Neil will be gone (him on the trip and she with a friend) - they leave together in the family car.

Everything is fine until out of no where Tom (Brosnan) pops up from the backseat of the car where he had been hiding with a gun and immediately makes it known that Abby and Neil better do what he says and what he wants or else Sophie is dead - implying that the sitter that arrived to care for her is in on the scheme with Tom.

From here on out it's a mind game with Tom making Abby and Neil do countless different things including doing to the bank, withdrawing all their savings and then once Tom gets the money, he sets it all on fire making the audience and the two main characters question his motive even more than before. Who is Tom? What does he want? What's the motive behind his madness? Who is really in on this plot? Does it have to do with Neil's business? Is someone jealous of his success?

All the answers are revealed in the last 30 minutes with an initial twist that puts the pieces together nicely... there IS motive which is always nice to see in a Thriller. However, there is another twist afterwards that was fine but I think the movie could have done without.

My one gripe was that, despite the 2 main characters having access to phones and often being allowed to roam free through the streets, initially neither contacted the police about their kidnapped daughter. However, the movie implies that Neil and Abby feel that she has been moved to an unknown location (rather than be at the house) which helps since if they contact the police, they may never find her.

7/10 Good Thriller - I'd recommend seeing it.

I had to speak out after seeing quite a few negative reviews. Especially to the ones that label this cliché and others who turn it off after 30min -- are you kidding me! I applaud the writer Morrissey here for trying to create something different and unique! It is. There are a few small issues (and one big one at the end) but for the most part very entertaining. The way I saw it is -- The Game/Fatal Attraction combination. I work in the business and as far as I'm concerned there are far far worse ones being made daily. I do see this one as a gem, if nothing else, for its courage to hang out something different. It won't change the world but there is meaning to be found for those pundits that say this an absolute mindless ... bad behavior can have consequences, and what about trust?? Something to think about.... For those that can't see the beauty in that you can always go rent "Dude Where's My Car" for intellectual fodder!