The story is set in a suburban community and revolves around two families, the Dovers and the Birches, who are celebrating Thanksgiving together. During the festivities, their young daughters go missing. The families, led by Keller Dover (played by Hugh Jackman) and Franklin Birch (played by Terrence Howard), become desperate to find their daughters and take matters into their own hands.
Detective Loki (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is assigned to the case and investigates the disappearance. The only lead is Alex Jones (played by Paul Dano), a mentally challenged young man who was near the scene. Despite intense interrogations, Loki lacks evidence to hold Alex, and he is released.
Frustrated and convinced of Alex’s guilt, Keller takes matters into his own hands and abducts Alex. Keller’s actions lead to a tense and morally complex situation, further straining the relationships between the families and the detective.
In the climax, the truth about the girls’ disappearance begins to unravel, revealing a web of dark secrets. The resolution involves the characters facing the consequences of their actions and grappling with the emotional toll of the harrowing experience.
“Prisoners” received critical acclaim for its intense and suspenseful narrative, as well as the performances of its cast. Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of a desperate father and Jake Gyllenhaal’s nuanced performance as the detective were particularly praised. The film explores themes of morality, justice, and the lengths to which people will go when faced with unimaginable circumstances.