Losing a loved one is devastating. Knowing they’re still alive but trapped somewhere out of reach? Even worse.

Unfortunately, The Captive doesn’t fully deliver on the weight of that premise. It had so much potential, but instead of creating a gripping, intense thriller, it leaves out crucial information that could have made the story hit much harder. The ending? Let’s just say they dropped the ball big time. It could have been emotional, powerful, or even visually striking—but nope. Instead, it just fizzles out without the impact it deserved.

One of the biggest problems is how the movie jumps between time periods. It constantly switches between past, present, and memories without much warning, making it way too easy to lose track of what’s happening. A little more clarity would have gone a long way in keeping the audience engaged.

And let’s talk about the plot—or rather, the lack of explanation. There’s a group of child kidnappers who take kids, watch the parents suffer, and… that’s it. The movie never really tells you why they do this, who they are, or what their bigger plan is. There’s some vague mention of an organization, but it’s never fully explored. Maybe that was the director’s intention—to leave things ambiguous—but in a drama about kidnapping, having absolutely no real answers just feels frustrating.

On the positive side, the actors were decent, though the emotional scenes sometimes felt more like a product of good makeup rather than good acting. And then there’s the setting—apparently, this town experiences eight straight years of winter, because every major event happens in the snow. (Okay, not really a compliment, but still worth mentioning.)

Overall, The Captive isn’t bad—it’s just disappointing. If you’re into slow-burn thrillers and don’t mind some unanswered questions, you might enjoy it. For me, it’s a solid 2.5/5. Not terrible, but it could have been so much better.