JessicaRulestheUniverse.com

Captive, the new movie by the prolific Brillante Mendoza, has come under fire from foreign critics. Indiewire called it “mercilessly redundant,” and “(lacking) any coherent emotional hook or worldly argument”. The Hollywood Reporter said it lacked “a spark of storytelling that would pull it out of the historical recreation category”. The Brag noted that “The monotony of life as a long-term hostage is so well conveyed…that you feel like the film has taken you hostage as well.”

We agree with the above, but we think they are actually the movie’s strong points. By cutting out artifice the filmmaker thrusts us into the thick of things and makes us experience the ordeal. We’re not allowed to remain detached observers: we’re all in it together.

Read our review at InterAksyon.com.

Almost forgot: Captive opens in theatres on September 5.